Cam Schlittler of the Yankees a little taken aback by the ‘very respectful’ fans of the Red Sox

BOSTON — Cam Schlitzer’s Fenway Debut

Cam Schlitzer made his debut at Fenway Park on Thursday, which marked his first matchup against the Red Sox since a standout playoff start. After the game, he shared how the criticisms from Boston fans—the very same folks he grew up admiring—both annoyed and motivated him. It was almost as if the fans treated him like one of those pitchers the Red Sox hitters usually dominate.

Even though he faced boos and the usual taunts during the Yankees’ 4-2 victory, Schlitzer suggested that the harshness he encountered online didn’t quite match the atmosphere in the stadium. “You underestimate how many real people are out there compared to online,” he commented after limiting the Red Sox to just two runs—one of which was earned—across eight innings.

Prior to the game, the young right-hander walked through the visiting dugout towards the right-field area, stretching and soaking in the cheers. Interestingly, there was a notable support crowd; a young fan held a sign that simply said “Walpole ❤️ Schlitzer.” Strangely enough, in those early moments, Yankees supporters seemed to outnumber Red Sox fans.

Perhaps the angst among the Red Sox faithful was more directed at their team, given the poor start to their season, rather than at Schlitzer himself. Manager Aaron Boone noted that while playing at Fenway can invoke a certain level of anxiety, he didn’t feel any intense hostility on this occasion.

Prior to the game, Schlitzer had mentioned that he and his family received death threats from passionate Red Sox fans who were openly against him. However, this anger didn’t manifest in person during the game. One of the more pointed jabs he heard was, “Mr. Walpole, have you forgotten where you come from?”

Standard fare for visiting pitchers, some fans shouted “ball,” “single,” and “home run” after each of Schlitzer’s warm-up throws. The loudest boos, it seemed, were reserved for Aaron Judge during the player announcements, effectively drowning out the negative reactions aimed at Schlitzer.

After the game, Schlitzer found himself back in the dugout, embraced by fellow Yankees supporters. “Most of the time, the fans were really respectful,” Schlitzer stated, observing the significant numbers of Yankees fans present.

Interestingly, the Yankees were bracing for a more hostile environment. Three pitching coaches were nearby during warmups, trying to shield Schlitzer from overly enthusiastic fans, while the head of security accompanied him to the bullpen, ensuring he’d remain safe. Notably, Fenway Park security kept a close eye on fan behavior near the bullpens.

Schlitzer’s recent performances and his candidness about dealing with aggressive fan behavior seem to have intensified the rivalry between him and the Red Sox. Nevertheless, the Red Sox, now sitting at 9-16, have bigger fish to fry than just antagonizing Schlitzer, who found the crowd’s energy to be less intense than anticipated.