PHILADELPHIA — Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice have been the most valuable Yankees this season.
But Brent Headrick might not be far behind.
Despite not being quite as sharp as he usually has been this season, the lefty reliever came through in the clutch again Friday night to escape a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning and preserve a 1-0 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
All it took was retiring one of the most fearsome hitters in the game, Kyle Schwarber, on a 3-2 count with two outs and the tying run on third base.
“He’s electric,” said Schlittler, who pitched into the eighth inning. “He’s saved me plenty of times this season. … Doesn’t sometimes get the credit he deserves, but he’s been amazing.”
Headrick, who has not allowed a run in a major league-best 44 of his 52 appearances this season, entered with runners on first and second with one out. He got some help from right fielder Jasson Domínguez and left fielder Cody Bellinger on strong throws home — Domínguez’s on a single that loaded the bases and Bellinger’s on Trea Turner’s line out — forcing the Phillies to hold J.T. Realmuto at third.
Headrick then entered a full count against Schwarber — with some key blocks on balls in the dirt from catcher Ali Sánchez — before throwing a 95 mph fastball at the bottom of the zone that generated a chopper to second base for the third out.
“Just throw my best stuff and trust it,” Headrick said. “That’s what you prep for. You love to be in those situations. Any time my name’s called, I’m going to pitch and give everything I have.”
It made for a tense moment with zero margin for error, but in the process, Headrick lowered his ERA to 1.38, continuing to be a godsend for a bullpen that needed more trustworthy arms.
“I think he’s been on the short list of guys that have been the best in the game, that aren’t the full-time closer or whatever,” Boone said.
Boone, a longtime 76ers fan, was among those excited Friday about LeBron James announcing he was signing in Philadelphia.
“Looks like they got a pretty good starting five in the mix,” Boone said with a big grin. “The East is getting interesting.”
Boone’s 76ers fandom stems from spending part of his childhood growing up here while his dad, Bob, was playing for the Phillies. But he manages in New York and has also gotten to know some of the Knicks’ personnel during his tenure, so naturally he was asked whether he favored the Knicks or 76ers heading into next season.
“The Knicks are the champs,” he said diplomatically. “But you bring Jaylen Brown in and LeBron, it’s two pretty good pieces I’d say.
“I’ll be watching with interest, I’m sure, this winter.”
Carlos Rodón (left elbow inflammation) is set to throw a “two-up” bullpen session Saturday — throwing a handful of pitches, sitting down and then getting back up for the equivalent of another inning — with about 35 pitches in total. If he gets through that session without issue, he should advance to facing hitters by next week.
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Boone said he still has “no idea” when Rodón might be ready to return to the rotation, though at this rate he will almost certainly need to go on a rehab assignment.
Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to face hitters for a second time Sunday, throwing another simulated inning as he works towards a potential return later this season.
Luis Gil (right shoulder inflammation) has advanced to facing hitters at the club’s player development complex, according to a video he posted on social media. … Dax Kilby, the Yankees’ first-round pick last summer, was activated off the injured list Friday for the first time this season at Single-A Tampa. The shortstop prospect, battling a hamstring injury, played in a rehab game in late May but then was out of action again until last week, when he played three rehab games without issue, clearing him to join Tampa’s roster.