About Last Night: Yanks Flex Muscles

By Paul Semendinger

July 10, 2025

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Last night the Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 9-6. Cam Schlittler made his MLB debut and walked away with the win.

Before Discussing The Game:

I apologize for this cursory review of the game, but we had some logistical issues here at SSTN and an urgent situation and I was called off the bench late with the Yankees up 9-4 in the 7th inning after having not watch or even followed a single pitch.

In short, delivering articles every single day, without fail, isn't easy. Life gets in the way. Yet we do this. We get the job done.

Since the game was hidden from the fans, I was enjoying some family time. After a nice dinner out, Ethan and I watched Remember the Titans which is my favorite football movie. He hadn't seen it since he was little. It was a good night to watch a good movie...

A List of My Favorite Sports Movies:

I know some people dislike some of the following movies - and that's fine. But let's not argue or debate the merits or flaws of these films. We can all like what we like. Everything need not be a debate. This is not a rank order listing...

1. Rocky

2. Rocky II

3. Rocky III

4. Rocky IV

5. Rocky V

6. Rocky Balboa

7. Creed

8. Creed II

9. Creed III

10. Cinderella Man

11. The Natural

12. Field of Dreams

13. The Rookie

14. The Sandlot

15. Remember the Titans

16. Hoosiers

17. Pride of the Yankees

18. Bull Durham

19. Chariots of Fire

20. Rudy

21. Fever Pitch

22. The Longest Yard (original)

    
    

Of note, there are a ton of great sports movies I've never seen so an omisssion from this list does not mean a movie wasn't good, it probably means I have not seen it. It's also possible I forgot a film or two. I could make a list of the sports movies I don't like, but, again, I don't want to knock a film someone else might like. We all have our reasons for enjoying what we enjoy.

The Game:

Cam Schlittler made his Major league debut last night and was terrific. After walking the first hitter he faced, he then retired the next three batters in order picking up two strikeouts. He threw some of the hardest pitches any Yankee has thrown this year.

The Yankees answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Yankees 3, Seattle 0

Schlittler then began the second inning by walking the leadoff hitter. (Maybe they didn't teach Cam that this is a bad approach. Never walk the lead off guy.) It mattered little, a double play and another strikeout helped to shut the M's down.

Anthony Volpe got things going in the seond inning with a single, but he tried to stretch it into a double and was thrown out. Jasson Dominguez doubled in the inning. Aaron Judge earned an intentional walk. But, the Yankees didn't score.

Cam Schlittler didn't walk the leadoff batter in the third, but he gave up a homer to J.P. Crawford, also a no no. That was Seattles' only run that inning. Yanks up 3-1

Jazz Chisholm homered to answer the Mariners' homer. Yankees 4-1

Jorge Polanco homered to answer Jazz. Yanks 4-2

No one scored again until the bottom of the fifth inning. There Jazz Chisholm homered again, this time with a runner on. Yanks 6-2

Cam Schlitter gave up a double, then struck out his 7th batter and his night was over. Jonathan Loaisiga came in and gave up a two-run homer to Randy Arozarena. Yanks 6-4

In the bottom of the sixth, Austin Wells, Jasson Dominguez, and Aaron Judge all doubled. Oswald Peraza also reached base - on an error. Yankees 9-4

Cole Young then hit a two-run homer off Loaisiga. Yankees 9-6

Devin Williams came in for the save and retired the side in order. Yankees Win!

Quick Stats:

• Cam Schlittler: 5.1 ip, 7 strikeouts, 3 runs - WIN! (Welcome to the big leagues!)

• Luke Weaver: 1.2 ip, 3 strikeouts, 0 runs

• Devin Williams: 1 ip, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs - SAVE

• Jasson Dominguez: 3-for-4, BB,

• Aaron Judge: 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI

• Cody Bellinger: 2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI

• Jazz Chisholm: 2 home runs, 4 runs batted in

• The Yankees had 13 hits.

My Take:

The Yankees have now won three games in a row. The long losing streak is getting behind them. Seatlle is no pushover. This is a good sign.

I commented on D.J. LeMahieu's DFA in a "Breaking News" article last evening. I am glad to see the Yankees making smart baseball decisions. We root for the players. We like the players. For some, the players are heroes. It's all good. But winning is a business. And the Yankees made a smart business decision moving on from a player that did not have the skills or abilities to help this team win a championship in 2025 (or beyond).

I wish I had seen Cam Schlittler pitch. What MLB and the Yankees don't seem to truly understand is that they take the excitement and interest away from the fans when they cannot see the big moments. I can imagine my grandkids asking me one day, "What was it like when Cam Schlittler made his MLB debut?" I'll only be able to answer, "I have no idea, but Remember the Titans is a great movie."

This is a simple formula. When fans see the games, they become interested in the game. When fans can't see the games, they lose interest. Those fans also find other (often better) things to do with their time.

There are rumblings that the Yankees are on the verge of making some big moves. Let's home these are smart moves. It would be fun to see the Yankees making decisions that are based on winning, period. It would be fun to see the Yankees dominate baseball for the summer and then into the fall. It would be great to see the Yankees finally win a World Series.

Let's Go Yankees!

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Cover Image created by Microsoft Copilot