Clarke Schmidt departed Yankee Stadium’s mound Saturday carrying both disappointment and distinction.
The Yankees right-hander fell two outs short of matching Don Larsen‘s storied 29-inning streak from the 1950s. Brent Rooker’s fourth-inning home run halted Schmidt’s scoreless run at 28⅔ innings — establishing the longest streak by a New York starter since 1961 and tops in Major League Baseball this season.
But Schmidt’s individual brilliance couldn’t mask the Yankees’ collective failure. JP Sears, who once wore pinstripes, combined with the Athletics’ bullpen to blank New York 7-0. The defeat highlighted persistent problems with a lineup that continues struggling to deliver clutch hits.
Schmidt reaches milestone despite setback
Schmidt dominated early, dispatching nine of the Athletics’ first 10 hitters with just 28 pitches. He looked sharp and confident, building on last week’s seven-inning no-hitter against Baltimore. That performance capped a remarkable stretch that earned him national attention.
The Elias Sports Bureau confirmed Schmidt’s 28⅔-inning scoreless streak set a Yankees franchise record for the Expansion Era. His run also surpassed Houston’s Hunter Brown for the year’s longest such stretch in MLB. No Yankee had sustained this level of dominance since Allie Reynolds accomplished his feat in 1951.
Clarke Schmidt’s 28 1/3 inning scoreless streak was the longest by a Yankees starter in a single season since Allie Reynolds’ 30 consecutive scoreless innings in 1951
Schmidt cruised through three innings before trouble arrived in the fourth. He left a cutter over the heart of the plate to Rooker. The outfielder crushed it over the left-center field wall, breaking the spell.
The sixth inning brought more problems. Schmidt issued consecutive four-pitch walks to start the frame before striking out Rooker. Nick Kurtz stepped in next and the Yankees pitcher threw four straight cutters. The final one found the right-field seats for a three-run homer.
“I thought the sixth inning was bad pitch selections, just fell into patterns,” Schmidt said postgame. “Very frustrating to put myself in that position.”
Despite the rough patches, Schmidt completed his fourth consecutive start of at least six innings. He struck out seven and scattered four hits, demonstrating the composure that has made him one of New York’s most dependable starters.
Mechanical adjustments fuel success
AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis
Schmidt’s breakout season stems from a crucial arsenal modification. After abandoning his four-seam fastball for years, he brought the pitch back earlier this season. The change has revolutionized his effectiveness, especially against left-handed hitting.
“This has been a pitch that we’ve been working on and fiddling with over the course of this year,” Schmidt said earlier this month. “For me, it just gets guys off the cutter, especially lefties. It can be effective versus righties as well for some swing-and-miss at the top of the zone.”
Opposing hitters entered Saturday batting just .125 against the four-seamer with a .188 slugging percentage. The enhanced velocity and vertical movement complement an arsenal featuring a sharp sweeper, cutter, and sinker.
Manager Aaron Boone lauded Schmidt’s command and sequencing before the game. He called him one of baseball’s most underrated starters. That assessment may change soon given Schmidt’s continued excellence.
New York managed three singles throughout the entire game. Aaron Judge came tantalizingly close to two home runs. He nearly connected on a 3-1 fastball in the third inning with runners aboard. Another deep drive traveled 406 feet to center field in the sixth but stayed in the park.
“We haven’t gotten hot all at the same time,” DJ LeMahieu admitted. “A couple of guys are doing their thing, but collectively, we just haven’t been consistent enough.”
The Yankees went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. They couldn’t sustain any meaningful offensive threat. Judge’s near-misses — including one with a 107.5 mph exit velocity — represented their best chances but ultimately came up short.
Boone addressed the team’s recent offensive struggles directly. “The last two days, we’ve been shut down a little more than we’d like. We’ve just got to get a couple of guys going.”
Road ahead for Schmidt and Yankees
Schmidt may have missed Don Larsen’s 1958 milestone by mere outs, but his 2025 transformation remains remarkable. He’s evolved from a back-end rotation option into one of the American League’s most effective pitchers. His development has been both noticeable and perfectly timed.
Schmidt has emerged as a rotation stabilizer while Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil deal with injuries. He’s also become a developmental model for younger pitchers throughout the organization. His detailed preparation routines have been shared as a blueprint for success.
The Yankees need more than Schmidt’s reliability, however. They require timely hitting, improved lineup balance, and something to spark them out of their June funk.
Paul Goldschmidt provided perspective after the loss. “There’s going to be ups and downs. I think the point is to just keep going, keep making the adjustments that are needed individually and as a group.”
Sunday’s rubber game gives the Yankees a chance to avoid a home series defeat to one of baseball’s weakest teams. It also offers an opportunity to properly celebrate Schmidt’s achievement after the fact.
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