Yankees vs. Red Sox final score, results: Cam Schlittler silences Boston bats in Game 3 to send New York to ALDS

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Cam Schlittler entered Thursday with 14 big-league appearances. He had never thrown double-digit strikeouts in a game at any professional level, never pitched in the postseason, and never thrown more than 100 pitches in an MLB game.

None of that mattered in a winner-take-all Game 3 of the AL Wild Card series. In just one night, Schlittler became a New York Yankees legend by carving up their rival’s lineup on the biggest stage possible, stealing the spotlight in the squad’s 4-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Schlittler threw 107 pitches over eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks. Boston’s hitters couldn’t touch the 24-year-old rookie right-hander, who became the first pitcher to go eight scoreless frames with 12-plus strikeouts and no walks in a game in postseason history, per ESPN.

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The Yankees, who bounced back from Garrett Crochet’s Game 1 dominance to hold on 4-3 in Wednesday’s Game 2, scored all four of their Game 3 runs in the fourth inning of the elimination matchup. A few hard-hit ground balls was enough to rattle Boston’s own rookie starter, Connelly Early — especially with the way Schlittler was cruising in front of the home crowd.

The defending American League champions are still alive, now due for an ALDS matchup with another AL East rival in the Toronto Blue Jays. Aaron Boone can surely enter that series knowing he has a stud right-handed rookie to rely on behind veteran lefties Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.

As for Boston, its season comes to a close with ice-cold bats. Five hits weren’t enough in Game 3, as the Red Sox now enter their offseason watching as the Yankees celebrate their trip to the ALDS.

The Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from Game 3 of the AL Wild Card series between the Yankees and Red Sox. Here’s how Schlittler led New York to a huge win.

MORE: Where Cam Schlittler ranks among most strikeouts for rookie in postseason

Yankees vs. Red Sox score

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Yankees vs. Red Sox updates, highlights from AL Wild Card Game 3

THEEEEEEEEE @YANKEES WIN!#CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/nK3YuR7ifX

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

End of eighth inning: Yankees 4, Red Sox 0

10:34 p.m. — Down to his potential last outs of 2025, Alex Cora sent out Aroldis Chapman to pitch, which works out. He strikes out three of four batters, but the Red Sox need runs. They head to the top of the ninth with their season on the line, facing David Bednar down four.

Here’s Schlittler final line:

First career #Postseason start in a winner-take-all Game 3

Cam Schlittler was not fazed in the slightest 🥶 pic.twitter.com/R6R3NMcYne

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

10:26 p.m. — Seven pitches. That’s all it took Schlittler to get through the eighth inning, which was probably enough for Boone to consider keeping him in for a complete game. That’s unlikely by this point, but either way, he’s saved the Yankees’ season. Boston’s offense hasn’t been able to do anything tonight.

Schlittler will likely finish with 12 strikeouts.

TWELVE#POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/WQDh2GHmhC

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

EIGHT SCORELESS FOR CAM SCHLITTLER! #POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/Y62iIFJSBo

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

10:24 p.m. — What. A. Catch. Ryan McMahon keeps Schlittler’s legendary night going by sprinting over to Boston’s dugout on a pop-up, and with the ball falling right in front of the dugout, the third baseman makes the catch just as he’s flipping over the railing. 

All momentum is on the Yankees’ side. Fortunately, Red Sox players caught McMahon from his fall. It was a terrific play to inch closer to advancing.

RYAN MCMAHON WENT FLYING INTO THE RED SOX DUGOUT

🎥: @MLB pic.twitter.com/Vo7n4eT0SL

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 3, 2025

End of seventh inning: Yankees 4, Red Sox 0

10:21 p.m. — Greg Weissert keeps the Yankees’ offense quiet in the seventh. But Schlittler is coming back out for the top of the eighth inning, able to build on his historic night. New York is six outs away from the ALDS.

10:10 p.m. — Can a rookie have a better postseason performance than Cam Schlittler has tonight? It’s seven shutout, 11-strikeout innings for the Yankees pitcher, leading his team when it needs it most. The defending AL champs are a few outs away from advancing, unless Boston can get to New York’s bullpen. 

Schlittler is the first rookie to strike out 10 or more in a postseason game since Oct. 12, 1997, per Jeff Passan. He’s also the first-ever rookie to strike out at least eight hitters in a winner-take-all postseason game, per MLB Network. One more stat: Schlittler now has the most punchouts for a Yankees pitcher in his postseason debut.

ELEVEN STRIKEOUTS FOR CAM SCHLITTLER!

The most EVER by a @Yankees pitcher in his #Postseason debut! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Xlf6y5QdWL

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

10:06 p.m. — Schlittler is back on the mound for the Yankees in the seventh. 

End of sixth inning: Yankees 4, Red Sox 0

10:04 p.m. — Chisholm’s leadoff single in the sixth doesn’t lead to any insurance runs, with Steven Matz pitching for Boston. We head to the seventh, with the Yankees owning the advantage in the rivalry matchup.

9:57 p.m. — Schlittler is having a career game on a massive stage. He’s up to 10 strikeouts through six innings, as the Red Sox have had no answers. He’s also only at 89 pitches, likely to come back out in the seventh and save Aaron Boone from going to his bullpen quite yet.

Cam Schlittler has pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts 🔥

🎥: @MLB pic.twitter.com/BO37d8cI0o

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 3, 2025

End of fifth inning: Yankees 4, Red Sox 0

9:47 p.m. — Boston gets a much-needed quick inning from Slaten in the bottom half of the fifth. He sends the Yankees down in order. Can Alex Cora’s unit respond offensively?

9:44 p.m. — Cam Schlittler is having a night. Make it five scoreless innings for the rookie, with eight strikeouts now after three in the fifth. He did allow two singles in the inning, but the Red Sox can’t capitalize. They have four innings to get back in it.

Cam Schlittler strikes out 3 batters in the 5th inning! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/2OZe8Eekrf

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

End of fourth inning: Yankees 4, Red Sox 0

9:31 p.m. — The Yankees batted around in the bottom of the fourth, knocking Early out of the game. While they did load the bases on Slaten after Judge was hit by a pitch, Bellinger flies out to end the frame.

New York hit the ball hard enough on the ground to get four runs, which is a nice boost for Schlittler on the mound.

Aaron Judge takes a couple glances at Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten after this hit by pitch pic.twitter.com/N6VaAd2NYE

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 3, 2025

Yankees 4, Red Sox 0

9:27 p.m. TWO RUNS SCORE — Connelly Early looked to be settled into a huge spot in Game 3. But the Yankees are all over him right now, also getting some good luck with their hard-hit balls in the infield. Chisholm and Rosario both score on a ball off the bat of Austin Wells, which was ruled a fielding error by first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.

Suddenly, it’s 4-0 Yankees. Early gets Grisham to fly out, but as Aaron Judge comes to the plate, that’s it for the Red Sox’s young starter. Alex Cora is going to Justin Slaten out of the bullpen.

FOUR-RUN @YANKEES INNING!#POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/FUlc7iQ7OO

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

Yankees 2, Red Sox 0

9:20 p.m. RBI SINGLE — Here come the Yankees’ bats. Jazz Chisholm also singled to load the bases, and for the second time in the series, Anthony Volpe comes through with a big hit. Early is starting to fall apart, with Volpe’s single scoring Stanton.

New York has a 2-0 lead to work with against its rival.

Anthony Volpe brings home another! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/8xZahMWdi3

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

Yankees 1, Red Sox 0

9:18 p.m. RBI SINGLE — Amed Rosario comes through. After a Stanton walk, Rosario punches a ball into left field for a single that scores Bellinger. Stanton is held up at second base, but the Yankees are threatening Connelly Early for more.

Amed Rosario drives in the first run of Game 3! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/wA8cexzJbK

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

9:11 p.m. — Cody Bellinger leads off the bottom of the fourth with some hustle. On a bloop hit that dropped between three Red Sox defenders, the former MVP sprinted around first base, sliding into second just as the ball escapes Ceddanne Rafaela’s glove.

9:07 p.m. — Yoshida is now 2-2 against Schlittler, but it hasn’t mattered. The top of the fourth is another scoreless effort for the Yankees starter, who is at 58 pitches.

End of third inning: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0

9:01 p.m. — Which rookie will blink first? Early is also cruising, striking out two more Yankees in the bottom of the third, allowing a single to Trent Grisham, then getting Judge to ground out. In the biggest games of their careers, Early and Schlittler are each through three innings with five strikeouts apiece.

8:53 p.m. — Cam Schlittler hasn’t been fazed by the moment, at least yet. He gets two more strikeouts in the third, up to five already. Offense has been hard to come by so far in Game 3.

End of second inning: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0

8:47 p.m. — Early gets out of the second unharmed after Stanton’s double. He struck out Jazz Chisholm for his third so far, and we remain scoreless.

Connelly Early froze Jazz Chisholm Jr. with a perfect sinker 😮‍💨#Postseason pic.twitter.com/dVCq3ilFyr

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

8:37 p.m. — Giancarlo Stanton mashed a baseball into left-center field, and it nearly gave the Yankees the lead. Instead, he settles for a double by lumbering around the bases, having to slide into second despite smoking the ball for a near-homer.

Stanton thought he got it all, starting with a slow trot instead of sprinting.

Giancarlo Stanton thought he homered

Had to hustle for a doublepic.twitter.com/gMQ11leCxv

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) October 3, 2025

8:34 p.m. — Schlittler bounces back from the leadoff single, punching out a pair of hitters in the top of the second. He has Yankee Stadium fired up early.

8:30 p.m. — Masataka Yoshida is the first baserunner for either team. His single off Schlittler leads off the second inning.

End of first inning: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0

8:23 p.m. — The rookie pitchers have traded scoreless first frames. Connelly Early sends the Yankees down 1-2-3, including a strikeout of Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge flying out. Through six outs, neither squad has taken an advantage.

8:17 p.m. — Schlittler shuts the Red Sox down in order, striking out Alex Bregman to head to the bottom of the first. 

Absolute precision from Cam Schlittler 🎯#Postseason pic.twitter.com/XlOgm4LX7N

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

8:12 p.m. — Cam Schlittler has thrown his first pitch to Jarren Duran. The Dodgers, Cubs and Tigers moved on to the divisional series already. Will the Yankees or Red Sox join them?

Pregame

7:48 p.m. — Here’s the Yankees’ lineup, with Cam Schlittler on the mound. Ben Rice is back in the lineup.

Game 3 Tonight. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/bQ4cGyHAAp

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 2, 2025

7:47 p.m. — Here is the Red Sox’s lineup for Game 3. Trevor Story nearly lifted the team to a Game 2 win. Who will step up tonight?

Game 3. pic.twitter.com/quNwRVeVOc

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 2, 2025

7:46 p.m. — Connelly Early is making history tonight, becoming Boston’s youngest starter in a postseason game since Babe Ruth in 1916.

MORE RED SOX-YANKEES:

Where to watch Yankees vs. Red Sox today

Yankees vs. Red Sox start time

• Date: Thursday, October 2
• Time: 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 3 of Yankees vs. Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series will begin at 8:08 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York. 

What channel is Yankees vs. Red Sox on today?

New York vs. Boston in the AL Wild Card round will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, with Karl Ravech, David Cone, Eduardo Perez and Buster Olney live from Yankee Stadium for the network.

You can also stream MLB Wild Card games live with the new ESPN app or on Fubo.

MLB playoff schedule 2025