Schlitt happens. History did not, but neither did an awful loss, which the Yankees flirted with as much as Cam Schlittler did a perfect game.

Rookie starter Cam Schlittler lost his bid for a perfect game in the seventh inning against the Rays, on a night when the Yankees stumbled late but still rallied to a 10-inning victory.

New York came within nine outs of perfection before Tampa Bay roared back to force extras – but Giancarlo Stanton crushed the decisive blow.

Schlittler struck out Simpson, the Rays' leadoff man, looking at a 97-mph fastball on the inside corner to start a 1-2-3, 11-pitch bottom half and he made it six-up, six-down with an 11-pitch second, striking out Feduccia swinging at a 99-mph fastball to end the inning. Schlittler was at just 66 pitches through six.

The New York Yankees have three of their top pitching prospects in the starting rotation in Double-A Somerset.

In Tampa, the Yankees led a victorious attack with 9 homers against the Rays. Tonight, Rasmussen faces Schlitter, with Tampa favored and high run expectations.