Yankees make franchise history by securing back-to-back shutouts to start season

SAN FRANCISCO — The New York Yankees’ pitching staff started the season with questions due to injuries to the rotation and an unproven bullpen, but it has been historically dominant through the first two games.

The Yankees made franchise history with their 3-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday afternoon, opening the season with back-to-back shutouts for the first time. Max Fried and Cam Schlittler also became the first two Yankees starting pitchers with consecutive scoreless starts to begin the season since Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte did so in 2003.

Friday, Schlittler was untouchable. He completed 5 1/3 innings in 68 pitches, striking out eight Giants batters and allowing just one hit. Schlittler’s pitch count was limited because he started spring training late due to mid-back inflammation, but he did not look behind schedule. He induced 13 whiffs on 27 swings and held the Giants to just two hard-hit balls.

In the season opener Wednesday night, Fried’s command wasn’t the sharpest, but his deep arsenal kept Giants hitters guessing throughout. He allowed two hits in 6 1/3 innings and tallied four strikeouts in the Yankees’ 7-0 win.

New York’s pitching staff has held San Francisco to just four hits in the two games. And the Yankees are doing this without Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt in their rotation to start the season, and without signing a marquee reliever to their bullpen this offseason after losing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in free agency.

This story will be updated.