James Paxton finally found his groove as he and the New York Yankees stomp on the Boston Red Sox.
- Boston Red Sox: 0
- New York Yankees: 8
- Winning Pitcher: James Paxton (2-2)
- Losing Pitcher: Chris Sale (0-4)
- FINAL, AL, Boxscore
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Let’s ask Aaron Boone; have the New York Yankees turned a corner yet?
While that is still to be determined, James Paxton certainly has, putting together the game of his life when the Yankees needed it most as the Boston Red Sox came to town.
Two of the best teams in baseball from 2018 have been lackluster so far in 2019. Entering with a combined 12-20 record, the New York Yankees had their work cut out for them after losing their first three home series since the 1980s.
And with Chris Sale on the mound, the Yankees needed a strong start from James Paxton.
What they got was far more than they ever could have imagined.
Paxton entered Tuesday night’s contest with a 1-2 record and a 6.00 ERA. Instead, he cruised through eight innings of work, allowing just two hits and striking out 12 batters. Against a Sox team that is desperately trying to find their groove, they had no answer for Paxton.
Paxton has been terrific tonight. Seven shutout innings, one hit allowed, and 10 strikeouts. A performance he and the #Yankees really needed. pic.twitter.com/MdhleyhFB5
— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) April 17, 2019
In fact, the Sox might as well have brought some pancakes from Boston because they get a healthy dose of Big Maple. Welcome to the rivalry! Paxton left to a standing ovation from grateful Yankees fans.
Beyond Paxton’s incredible start, which likely is the best of any Yankee starter this year, the Yankees’ offense finally woke up from their deep slumber.
After quick 1-2-3 innings for both sides, the Yankees finally got to lefty Chris Sale when Brett Gardner led off the bottom of the third with a booming double and advanced to third on an Austin Romine sacrifice fly. After Mike Tauchman strikeout, newcomer DJ LeMahieu lined an RBI single to right field, scoring Gardner and allowing the Sox to get a taste of what was to come.
With a two-out walk to Aaron Judge, Luke Voit continued his impressive on-base streak by lining an RBI single to bring the Yankee lead to 2-0.
DJ LeMahieu stays hot and opens up the scoring. 1-0 Yanks! pic.twitter.com/3am13cfrUL
— David Mendelsohn (@BigBabyDavid_) April 16, 2019
The Sox threatened in the top of the fourth, starting the inning with runners on second and third with no outs. However, James Paxton eliminated the threat by getting two flyouts and a strikeout.
Of course, he was going to be excited about this escape plan. And Yankees fans loved it too.
2nd and 3rd, nobody out with Boston's 3-4-5 hitters coming up and James Paxton did this. He's fired up and seems ready for New York now, huh? pic.twitter.com/DaDE7DznhN
— David Mendelsohn (@BigBabyDavid_) April 16, 2019
More runs were on tap for the Yankees, as Clint Frazier did his thing again, sneaking a home run over the right-field wall. Mike Tauchman added to the lead by lacing an RBI-double to right.
4-0 and the Yankees were feeling good. But they weren’t done on the offensive end just yet.
In fact, the bottom of the order really put those runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Gio Urshela lined a double to left and Gardner worked a walk before Mike Tauchman absolutely crushed his first MLB home run to bring the lead to 7-0.
"Tauchman, the sock man!" – John Sterlings Call pic.twitter.com/LVg7K5ddqk
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) April 17, 2019
Tauchman finished his first game of the rivalry with a 2-for-4 performance and four RBIs.
Adding on another in the bottom of the seventh on a Gleyber Torres home run, every Yankee in the starting lineup left the ballpark with a hit.
Cruising with an 8-0 lead, Paxton finished out his game strong, dialing it up to 98 MPH on his final batter in the top of the eighth inning.
Enter Joseph Harvey to clean up the mess. In his third appearance with the team, he pitched a scoreless inning and allowed one infield hit.
What's Next
The Yankees will take on the Sox again Wednesday night in the final game of a two-game set. The Bombers will send J.A. Happ to the mound in hopes that he has turned a corner as well. Happ is 0-2 on the season with an 8.76 ERA.
But Nathan Eovaldi is much the same this year, going in with a 0-0 record and an 8.40 ERA. Eovaldi, the former Yankee, has started in three games so far this season.
The game can be seen on the YES Network as well as ESPN. It can be heard on WFAN 660/101.9 FM and WADO 1280.
