Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees

NEW YORK – Cam Schlittler has never hidden his affinity for "Star Wars." With Players’ Weekend inviting Major League Baseball to flash personality, the young Yankees right-hander couldn’t choose: His cleats honored both the Light Side and the Dark Side. Then, he went out and showed why the Force is strong for one of the American League’s leading Cy Young Award candidates. Even without his sharpest stuff, Schlittler limited the Blue Jays to one run over six innings during New York's 3-1 win on Friday evening at Yankee Stadium. “Growing up, you always want to be toward the Light Side,” Schlittler said. “As you get older, you understand how the world works and how things are. You gain a little bit more sympathy for the Dark Side. I feel like it’s a good balance of where I’m at as a player, both on and off the field.” The Yankees have won five straight games and seven of 10, closing to within three games of the division-leading Rays in the American League East standings. “It’s wide open,” Schlittler said. “I think we’ve still got a lot of opportunities to win the division this year, so we’ve got to chase those goals. Regardless of how the other teams are playing, I think we need to step up.” Toronto didn’t make it easy. Facing the Blue Jays for the second time in as many starts, Schlittler battled a lineup that frequently spoiled pitches and extended at-bats, frustrating the hurler at times. “He kind of struggled tonight, frankly,” manager Aaron Boone said. “The fifth and sixth might have been his best innings. He struggled to get in a rhythm, but he didn’t break. He made some big pitches when he needed to. Anytime he was backed into a corner, the best of the night came out.”