NEW YORK (AP) — Clarke Schmidt believed he inadvertently revealed his pitch to Dylan Moore of the Seattle Mariners, who hit a two-run homer in the third inning to secure a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Josh Rojas doubled with one out, becoming the Mariners’ first baserunner. Schmidt mentioned after the game that Rojas had indicated his intention to throw a full-count cutter.
“Tipping pitches is a significant aspect of this sport, and it's always on our minds and something we are well aware of,” Schmidt stated.
He delivered a 93.1 mph pitch over the black on the outside of the plate. Moore smacked it 386 feet into the left-field stands, giving the Mariners a 2-0 lead.
“I was able to get on top of it and hit it well,” Moore commented, adding an opposite-field solo homer to right in the ninth off Nick Burdi.
Schmidt noted that Rojas “was probably relaying some signs from second, and it paid off for them. They scored two runs on it. However, I was able to make adjustments after reviewing the video, which is just part of the game. It's another factor in it.”
Schmidt (5-2), who had won his previous three starts, allowed five hits over five innings. He currently holds a 2.59 ERA.
A 28-year-old right-hander, Schmidt posted a 9-9 record with a 4.64 ERA last season in his maiden full-time stint in the Yankees' rotation.
“Everyone has pitching habits that opponents might decipher in certain ways, be it in the way you come set or any other detail,” Schmidt stated. “Perhaps in the past, I had a different tell and now it's different. It's about staying vigilant and ensuring you're mindful of small details. It can certainly be the deciding factor in a game. For me, it's something we've been monitoring this year through our starts, making adjustments and continuing to refine our approach.”
Seattle elevated Schmidt's pitch count, as he threw 100 pitches in five innings.
“They had a solid game plan, fouling off numerous pitches and running deep counts,” Schmidt remarked.
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