TAMPA – Clarke Schmidt has made it known that he wants to go deeper into games.
He did exactly that on Friday, blanking the Rays for 6.2 innings at Tropicana Field in a 2-0 Yankees win. The series-opening outing matched the longest of Schmidt’s career and set a new standard for the 28-year-old this season.
“It’s uncharted territory finally to be able to get there tonight,” an excited Schmidt said after the game. “Obviously, it’s a big talking point. So I try to block out the noise and not worry about it, but I know what I’m capable of doing. And I know I’m very well capable of controlling my pitch count and going deeper in games. It’s a big step in the right direction.”
Coincidentally, Schmidt’s only other 6.2-inning performance came in Tampa last August.
Longer outings are big deal for Schmidt, as he’s typically been less effective later in games. Prior to Friday, the righty had a 4.53 career ERA between the fourth and sixth innings. As a starter, opponents were hitting .348 against him the third time through the order. The opposition also had a .344 average when Schmidt was between 76 and 100 pitches.
“It’s just one of those things where it’s kind of like the next puzzle piece and learning how to get better as a starting pitcher,” Schmidt said. “We feel like we’re continuing to move that needle and get better and better, and we feel like we were getting closer and closer. Obviously tonight was a big accomplishment as far as that goes, and I think it’s just the beginning.
“I know I’m always very close. Like every time I’m out there, it’s like maybe it’s a bloop hit here or a 3-2 walk that just misses. It’s been very close every single time. So to finally execute pitches and kind of accomplish that goal was obviously big, but it’s not something that I think about. When I’m out there, all I’m thinking about is competing and executing pitches, and that showed tonight.”
Schmidt, leaning on his sweeper and cutter the most, totaled 87 pitches against the Rays. He also tallied five hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
One of those strikeouts came at the start of the seventh inning. However, Aaron Boone stuck with Schmidt following the free pass to Isaac Paredes, and the pitcher notched two more outs before exiting to an ovation from a friendly road crowd.
Despite a favorable pitch count, Boone said that he didn’t consider letting Schmidt go for the last out of the seventh. While the Rays never scored, they put some pressure on Schmidt, who had help from Jose Trevino when it came to erasing baserunners all night.
And with Richie Palacios stepping up to the plate, Boone wanted to pull Schmidt after the second baseman homered off the hurler at Yankee Stadium on April 19 and struck a single earlier in Friday’s game.
“Palacios, here and back at our place, has had some pretty good swings against him,” Boone reasoned. “So as much as his pitch count was in good shape, it was still a pretty stressful night as far as just pitching in leverage the entire night. They pressured him pretty well for not scoring. So once we got to Palacios there, I was pretty convicted on getting him there.”
Naturally, Schmidt put up a fight when Boone visited the mound.
That’s not unusual, and Schmidt is intent on forcing Boone’s hand moving forward.
“We’ll continue to push that envelope,” Schmidt said. “I know I’m gonna go out there and earn his trust. It’s just a matter of continuing to go out there and show that I can do it, and then eventually, I’ll leave him with no other choice. But every time I’m out there, I want him to try to pry the ball out of my hand.”
Boone wouldn’t have it any other way, and he knows how much pride Schmidt takes in logging extra outs.
“He wants the ball,” Boone said. “He’s got a lot of confidence. He’s super competitive, and he loves pitching. He loves the game, the fire. He likes the action.”
While Schmidt lowered his ERA to 2.95, the Yankees did just enough offensively to secure a win.
Their first run came in the fourth inning, when Anthony Rizzo picked up an RBI single with two outs and runners on the corners. That RBI knock was set up by an Aaron Judge walk and a two-out single from Giancarlo Stanton.
Tampa’s Taj Bradley was otherwise excellent on Friday. The 23-year-old righty, previously sidelined by a right pectoral strain, lasted six innings in his season debut.
Bradley also totaled four hits, the one earned run, two walks and seven strikeouts over 93 pitches.
“Oof,” Boone said when asked what made Bradley so effective. “Ninety-eight, cutter, split, flashed a good curveball tonight. He’s impressive. He’s got a great arm.”
Rizzo added a solo homer in the ninth inning, while Nick Burdi, Luke Weaver and Clay Holmes kept the Rays scoreless.
While Holmes endured a bumpy ninth inning — Tampa loaded the bases — Schmidt’s evening went unspoiled thanks to the Yankees’ bullpen.
“I would say no,” Schmidt said when asked if thoughts of his late-inning struggles ever creep in when he’s on the mound. “What really helps is having a really good bullpen. So when I do get to those situations, I can trust my bullpen. I know that they’re always going to have my back.”
With their road trip off to a good start, the Yankees will ask Nestor Cortes to keep the good vibes going on Saturday. The southpaw, who owns a 3.72 ERA this season, will face the right-handed Zack Littell.
Little has been sharp for Tampa thus far, recording a 3.00 ERA.
