Brent Headrick delivers electric performance to help Yankees escape tight spot

PHILADELPHIA — Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice have been the most valuable Yankees this season. But Brent Headrick might not be far behind.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.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 tha...