Cam Schlittler and Jacob deGrom went blow for blow, but the Yankees came out on top in their 3-2 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Yankees (20-10) stay 1.5 games ahead of the Rays for first place in the AL East.

Here are the takeaways...

-Going up against deGrom, the Yankees used some two-out magic in the first. Aaron Judge singled up the middle and Cody Bellinger turned on a pitch and hit a double off the top of the wall -- narrowly missing a two-run shot -- to score Judge from first. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with a liner that looked destined to split the outfielders, but Evan Carter caught it on the run to end the inning.

-On the other end, the Yankees defense helped out Schlittler. Bellinger ran down a liner moving away from him in left and then Trent Grisham made a diving catch to set the first two batters down.

-After that eventful first inning, both starters would settle in, getting through five innings with just one run allowed between them. However, Schlittler would get into trouble in the sixth.

Brandon Nimmo led off with a single, his second of the game. Schlittler would walk the next batter for Seager. Schlittler would get Seager to strike out swinging on three pitches. He'd get the next two batters to pop out to get out of the inning.

Schlittler pitched six scoreless innings (92 pitches/64 strikes), allowing three hits and two walks while striking out eight. He lowered his ERA to 1.51.

DeGrom was just as nasty against the Yankees. The two-time Cy Young winner allowed just one run in his six innings (93 pitches/56 strikes) on three hits and striking out five.

-With Tuesday's starters out, it was an adventure for both bullpens. Austin Wells launched his third homer of the season in the seventh to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. While the Yankees relievers had to work out of trouble in the seventh and eighth innings. Brent Headrick worked around the two batters getting on base to escape the seventh, while Fernando Cruz allowed the first two hitters in the eighth to reach. A sac bunt attempt by Joc Pederson was perfectly placed, but Cruz slid to get the ball and threw to Ryan McMahon at third while falling to get the force. He struck out Jake Burger and Ezequiel Duran to escape the inning.

With a three-run lead, David Bednar came in for the save. Andrew McCutchen reached on an error by McMahon with one out and then Danny Jansen lined a triple to push across the Rangers' first run. On the play, Grisham tried to get the ball but was out of reach and he tripped in the warning track. The veteran outfielder stayed on the ground for a bit, but stayed in the game. Bednar hits Nimmo to bring up the winning run in Josh Jung. Jung hits a single to make the score 3-2 before getting Corey Seager to ground into a game-ending doubleplay.

-Judge would launch his 12th home run of the season to lead off the ninth, a 424-foot bomb to put the Yankees up 3-0. He's now tied for the AL lead.

McMahon started at third and finished 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. His five-game hitting streak was snapped.

Jasson Dominguez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. In his first two games this season, the young outfielder -- who started at DH -- is now 1-for-8 with two strikeouts.

Game MVP: Cam Schlittler

Schlittler was dominant but also showed his resolve, getting out of jams when needed.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Rangers conclude their three-game set with an afternoon game on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 2:35 p.m.

Elmer Rodriguez will make his major league debut against Nathan Eovaldi (2-4, 5.79 ERA).