Cam Schlittler dominates Mets before comebacker scare as Yankees take Subway Series

A team playing for the playoffs seemed more inspired than a team playing for pride.Or maybe motivation wasn’t a factor and Cam Schlittler’s power was simply overwhelming when matched against the Mets’ second-half pluck.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

Regardless of the reasoning, the Yankees showed why they will play far bigger series this season than this September Subway Series, which marked the last somewhat meaningful weekend of the Mets’ year.Schlittler was dominant to complement an offense that amounted to just two big swings in a 2-0 shutout of the Mets in front of 45,508 in The Bronx on Sunday afternoon, when the Yankees were not expected to clinch a playoff spot but did claim a set from their red-hot, playing-for-nothing neighbors.The Yankees (86-63) remained four games behind the Rays, who don’t seem to lose, while the Mets (69-80) dropped to 22-14 since a trade deadline in which they waved goodbye to much of their club and waved a white flag.Since Aug.3, the Mets’ season has taken on a different hue, with development more important than details like the score.

Against the front-runner for the American League Cy Young on Sunday was an opportunity for growth.“Anytime you go up against the best, you actually should smile and enjoy the challenge of it,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said, though if there were any smiles Schlittler would have used his heat to erase those, too.The young righty was the best pitcher on the day and in the series, bulldozing through the sizzling Mets offense through six scoreless, one-hit innings that seemed easy until they turned scary for the Yankees.Schlittler’s last batter of the matinee was Bo Bichette, who smashed a 111.5 mph comebacker off Schlittler’s leg in a moment that evoked Spencer Jones vs.Clay Holmes.The ace hopped on his other leg — Schlittler’s only acknowledgement of any pain �...