Cam Schlittler continues Yankees starters’ absurd dominace in win over Mariners

SEATTLE — It is not always going to be like this.

A Yankees starter is going to give up multiple runs some day, maybe even three.

But not now, not yet — and most of the time, not even one.

Cam Schlittler was masterful once again, throwing 6 ¹/₃ shutout innings on the way to a 5-3 win over the Mariners to claim the series at T-Mobile Park while continuing the Yankees’ run of pitching dominance to begin the season.

Schlittler, who retired the final 15 batters he faced and would have gone even deeper had he not been on a pitch count, became the fourth Yankees starter to not allow a run in their first six games — two by him and two by Max Fried.

Yankees starters have still only given up just two runs over their first six games (spanning 33 ²/₃ innings), marking the fewest by any team’s starting rotation through their first six games of a season (since 1900).

The bullpen, which has mostly been strong in its own right early, threatened to light the game on fire late after the Yankees led 4-0. Camilo Doval loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning before Cal Raleigh roped a two-run single off David Bednar to make it 4-2.

After Bednar struck out Julio Rodriguez to end the threat, Ben Rice got a run back in the top of the ninth on his first home run of the season, which provided a bit more breathing room for when the Mariners fought back again in the bottom of the ninth, pushing across another run. But Bednar finally nailed down the final out on his 40th pitch, sending the Yankees flying home high ahead of Friday’s home opener.

Across 79 pitches on Wednesday — still building up after back inflammation had slowed him briefly in camp — Schlittler allowed just two hits while striking out seven. He has still not walked a batter this season, only letting three runners on base at all across 11 ²/₃ scoreless innings.

Schlittler’s Massachusetts counterpart, Rice, had another strong day himself. The lefty slugger went 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI double and that 427-foot homer as he reached base eight times in this three-game set.

Paul Goldschmidt, who was only in the lineup because the Yankees wanted to give the red-hot Giancarlo Stanton a proactive day off to keep him healthy over the long haul, delivered the biggest swing in the sixth inning.

The veteran first baseman crushed a three-run shot off right-hander George Kirby to put the Yankees ahead 4-0 — set up by Trent Grisham and Rice each drawing a walk — creating some cushion for Schlittler and Co.

Goldschmidt only hit three home runs off righties all of last season (in 366 plate appearances), but went deep for the first time this season in his third at-bat against Kirby.

For the second straight game, the Yankees pounced in the top of the first inning, once again rallying with two outs. Cody Bellinger got it started by drawing a walk and then stole second — his second theft in as many games.

Rice then smoked a double down the right-field line, scoring Bellinger for the 1-0 lead.