Spencer Jones continues to help carry the Yankee offense and Cam Schlittler continues to throw strong starts — and this time the result was a 3-1 Yankee win over the Blue Jays on a beautiful Friday night at Yankee Stadium.
Jones hit a towering 2-run HR, just fair inside the right-field foul pole and into the upper deck in the 2nd inning to give NY a 2-0 lead. The Yanks tacked on a run in the 4th to make it 3-0 when George Lombard Jr. led off with a single, Trent Grisham walked, Spencer Jones grounded out to the right side to move the runners over, and Jose Caballero hit a sac fly. And that was all the runs the Yanks got, and needed.
Cam Schlittler wasn’t perfect — walking 3 and struggling a bit in the first few innings before getting into rhythm at the end of his start — but still finished with a line of 6 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 4 K’s, 3 BB’s to get the win. He is now 11-6 2.16 and continues to be considered by many as the leading candidate for Cy Young in the American League.
Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, and David Bednar took it from there with 3 shutout innings.
“He was struggling to throw strikes consistently, and certainly like he normally does,” said manager Aaron Boone about Schlittler. “For him to find a way to give us 6 innings and get a ton of big outs on the night is a testament to just how good a pitcher he is.”
NY improves to 73-55 and pull to 3 games back of Tampa, and stay 4 ahead of Boston. Toronto falls to 63-67.
1. S Jones HR Just Fair — Puts NY Up 2-0 in 2nd
The Blue Jays threw their now vaunted bullpen day at the Yanks — the one that shut them down in the final game of the playoffs last year and shut them down again last week. Mason Fluharty opened and got 2 outs in between 2 walks before handing the baton to 6’2 righthander Spencer Arrighetti — an erstwhile starter.
Arrighetti struck out George Lombard Jr. for the last out of the 1st but Trent Grisham worked a walk to lead off the 2nd, and next batter Spencer Jones hit a towering fly to right that was just fair for a 2-run HR.
Home Run Di-Spencer ? pic.twitter.com/sbr0jfbG2m
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 21, 2026
2. Lombard, Grisham & Jones Set Caballero Up in 4th
George Lombard Jr. faced Arrighetti for a 2nd time leading off the 4th — and this time singled. Trent Grisham walked, Spencer Jones grounded out to the right side to move the runners over, and Jose Caballero hit a sac fly for a 3-0 Yankee lead.
Jose Caballero brings home George Lombard Jr. on a sac fly and the Yankees extend their lead to 3-0 pic.twitter.com/9HDQX7StHN
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 22, 2026
3. Schlittler with Another Strong Start
Meanwhile Cam Schlittler threw down another strong start — a bit shaky but making big pitches to end innings throughout.
Cam Schlittler, 99mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/rvByh4hg2x
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 22, 2026
Cam allowed a single by centerfielder Brett Bateman leading off the 1st, then got a double play — before walking Alejandro Kirk and allowing a single before getting a groundout.
Cam pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 2nd, but walked 2 amongst getting 3 outs in the 3rd.
Cam allowed consecutive leadoff singles in the 4th to Ernie Clement and Kazuma Okamoto, then got a groundout to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in a 2-0 game. But he struck out Chris McAdoo and got Miles Straw to pop out to end the inning.
Schlittler allowed a leadoff double to Shane Bateman in the 5th, and a 1-out RBI single by Alejandro Kirk for a 3-1 game. But he got Sanchez to hit into a doubleplay to end the inning.
Cam finally settled down in the 6th, throwing a 1-2-3 inning with 2 strikeouts and was done for the night at 96 pitches.
Cam Schlittler, Hammers. ?? pic.twitter.com/9IyIaaFUBx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 22, 2026
4. Toronto Pen Shuts Down NY
Arrighetti pitched 3.1 innings allowing the 3 runs.
The Blue Jays then marched in 4 relievers who each pitched a shutout inning:
- 6’2 lefty Brendon Little who pitched a shutout 5th,
- 6’4 righty Braydon Fisher who pitched a shutout 6th,
- 6’3 righty Paul Sewald who pitched a shutout 7th, and
- 6’3 righty Simeon Woods Richardson who pitched a shutout 8th, striking out 3.
5. Headrick, Blackburn, & Bednar Shut Down Toronto
Meanwhile the Yankee bullpen did the same:
Brent Headrick pitched a shutout 7th, allowing a 2-out triple to Brett Bateman but striking out George Springer to end the inning,
Down goes Springer! #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/3XTKURikNE
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 22, 2026
Paul Blackburn pitched a shutout 8th in a 3-1 game — allowing a 1-out double to DH Jesus Sanchez but getting a fly out and line out to end the inning, and
David Bednar pitched a shutout 9th — allowing a leadoff double by 1st baseman Brandon Valenzuela but getting fly out, groundout and strikeout for the old ballgame.
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