The scene at Yankee Stadium on Monday night had echoes of history as Clarke Schmidt took the mound with the Yankees down 2-0 in the World Series. His troubles began immediately with a four-pitch walk to Shohei Ohtani in the first inning, followed by a two-run homer from Freddie Freeman. Schmidt struggled to find control, issuing four walks over just 2 2/3 innings before being pulled with the bases loaded. Reliever Mark Leiter Jr. managed to end the inning, preventing further damage and keeping the score at 3-0.
Reflecting later, Schmidt admitted he hadn’t met the challenge that night. Unlike Cone, a postseason veteran in ’96, Schmidt was making only his third playoff start, following serviceable but unspectacular outings in the ALDS against the Royals and the ALCS versus Cleveland.
“Obviously, I didn’t do my job tonight,” the Yankees pitcher said.
Schmidt sinks Yankees
His struggles were evident from the beginning, including the walk to a visibly limited Ohtani, nursing a shoulder injury from a recent slide. The challenges of October baseball had proven daunting for the young starter, leaving the Yankees’ season in a precarious spot.
After retiring Mookie Betts on a fly ball to left, Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt’s control faltered, leading to a two-run homer from Freddie Freeman. Freeman’s shot marked his third consecutive game with a home run in this World Series and extended his streak to five straight World Series games with a homer, dating back to his days with the Braves.
Schmidt briefly regained his rhythm, retiring five straight, but control issues returned in the third. He walked Tommy Edman, the Dodgers’ ninth batter, who later scored on a shallow single to right by Betts, pushing the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0. Schmidt’s troubles compounded with another walk to Freeman, and while he forced Teoscar Hernandez into a pop-out, he followed with a walk to Max Muncy, bringing his night to an early end. The Yankees’ bullpen took over with more than six innings remaining, tasked with a tall order in the must-win game.
Schmidt’s big fall a sharp contrast to Cone’s big day
The last time a Yankees pitcher faced such stakes, it was David Cone in 1996, tasked with keeping New York’s hopes alive in similar circumstances. For Schmidt, however, the night took a different turn, with a 4-2 loss pushing the Yankees to the brink of elimination.
Cone, who had shared his memories with Schmidt before the game, recounted how he’d focused on avoiding early damage, trying to hold off the Braves just long enough for his team to find its footing. He’d admitted that while these thoughts sound like any game plan, the pressure skyrockets in the World Series. His advice? Only firsthand experience reveals how to manage such weighty expectations.
“My mindset was just to avoid the big inning early and give us a chance to get a lead,” the Yankees legend explained. Normal thoughts you have every game, but you realize every pitch is much more magnified. How you handle that kind of pressure is something you have to experience to appreciate. Once you get out there, you understand what it’s all about.”
In that October showdown against Atlanta, Cone delivered, allowing just one run over six innings after his team grabbed an early lead, igniting a four-game rally that clinched the championship for New York.
After the game, Schmidt noted his struggle to adjust his mechanics during that pivotal third inning, an issue that ultimately ended his outing. Former Yankees pitcher David Cone weighed in on Schmidt’s performance, emphasizing the mental stamina required to pitch under intense postseason pressure, noting that while Schmidt had shown confidence all season, managing mechanics in such high-stakes moments remains a unique challenge.
“Managing your emotions is such a big part of it and that can’t be measured,’’ he said. “On the mound, can you control your body when your heart rate is elevated? He’s a very confident pitcher coming off a really good year and he’s healthy. So he should be able to execute his pitches.”
Schmidt’s night ended after 68 pitches, with only eight outs recorded. Cone, reflecting on Schmidt’s potential, pointed to his first-round draft status and college experience as signs of his preparedness. Still, he acknowledged that no amount of preparation can replicate the intensity of a World Series stage, where every pitch matters.
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