Yankees Split The Doubleheader With The Mets
Instead of sweeping the doubleheader the Yankees had to settle for a split in the Bronx with the Mets.
With the Yankees taking the first game,
The Yankees had coasted to a 12-5 victory in the afternoon contest, as their bats loudly supported a so-so effort from Masahiro Tanaka. After collecting 15 hits -- nine for extra bases -- in the day game, the Yankees were largely stymied by soft-tossing lefty Jason Vargas. New York's only extra-base hit came in the ninth inning on a Brett Gardner homer. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-struggles-in-loss-to-mets
Meanwhile the Yankees lost the second game.
- James Paxton proved to be virtually unhittable through his first five trips to the Yankee Stadium mound in pinstripes, showcasing the electric three-pitch mix that tantalized the Yankees when the left-hander's name surfaced in trade talks this past offseason.”according to
Paxton's introduction to the Subway Series brought a reversal to those fortunes, as he was chased early from Tuesday's 10-4 loss to the Mets. The lopsided defeat forced the Yankees to settle for a split of the day-night doubleheader, bringing into focus their continuing search to solidify the starting rotation.
"I had a lot of success here this year. Tonight was a bad one," Paxton said. "It's not my first tough one and I'm sure it's not going to be my last, but I've dealt with failure before. I'll bounce back like I have before."
Paxton had permitted just one earned run through his first 26 2/3 innings in The Bronx this season, but he was in trouble almost immediately on Tuesday night. Jeff McNeil opened the game with a double, trotted to third on a J.D. Davis single and all three runs scored as Pete Alonso cracked his 22nd home run.
The Mets continued to put good at-bats on Paxton in the third inning, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone believed that he saw signs of fatigue as the hurler neared the end of his 63-pitch effort. Michael Conforto, Wilson Ramos and Adeiny Hechavarria smacked run-scoring singles off Paxton, who was charged with six runs and seven hits over 2 2/3 innings.
"I feel like we have guys capable of going out and pitching well for us," Boone said. "Especially tonight after we got that first game, I felt great about handing the ball to Pax. I do feel like he's close to being the guy we all believe he is. Hopefully that starts for him the next time out."
Three starts after coming off the injured list, Paxton said that his left knee and the brace he is wearing to protect it had no effect in his shortest start of the year.
"I don't think that's been an issue," Paxton said. "I just think for me it has been a little bit of a rough stretch right now. I've got to get back to work and figure out what I need to do to get back to helping this team win."
While the Mets bounced back from their defeat in game one of the doubleheader.
When asked earlier this week what’s been different during Jason Vargas’ recent run of success, Mets manager Mickey Callaway bristled at the question.”according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
“You mean the six innings that he started off with?” Callaway quipped, referring to a season-opening rocky stretch that, all told, lasted 6 1/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
Callaway’s point was clear: few gave Vargas much of a chance, despite his recent history containing far more promising starts than poor ones. Perhaps they should have. In holding the Yankees to three runs over six innings Tuesday during a 10-4 Mets win in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, Vargas contributed his third consecutive quality outing. He has averaged more than seven innings per start during that stretch, with a 1.64 ERA. Longer term, Vargas has produced a 3.76 ERA over 105 1/3 innings since the 2018 All-Star break. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
“He’s been pitching his heart out,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said. “You can’t really ask much more from that guy. He’s dealt, simple as that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
If those numbers don’t pop off the page, they should given how contrary they run to Vargas’ reputation. As recently as mid-April, many were calling for the veteran’s rotation spot, urging general manager Brodie Van Wagenen to replace him with free agent Dallas Keuchel. The Mets never showed much interest in that, giving Vargas a public vote of confidence and largely ignoring Keuchel, who went to the Braves. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
Now, Vargas is rewarding their faith. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
After the Mets staked the left-hander to a six-run lead on Alonso’s three-run homer in the first inning and a trio of RBI singles off James Paxton in the third, Vargas cracked only a little. He allowed the first four Yankees to reach base in the bottom of the third, and the first three of those to score. Vargas then retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced to help the Mets salvage a doubleheader split; they lost Game 1, 12-5. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
“It was huge,” Callaway said. “It’s kind of what we’ve done all year. Sometimes, we’ll get slapped in the face early in a game and then we come back at the end. This is who this team is.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
This is also the Vargas the Mets thought they had acquired when they signed him to a two-year, $16-million contract before the 2018 season to stabilize their rotation. Over the first half of that season, Vargas battled injuries and an inconsistent schedule, holding an 8.60 ERA at the All-Star break. That he managed to find a groove down the stretch, going 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA over his final eight starts, gave the Mets reason to believe in him heading into 2019. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
It also gave Van Wagenen reason to eschew rotation upgrades over the winter, focusing his efforts instead on infield and bullpen depth. The Mets added a few minor rotation pieces, but no one they expected to supplant Vargas for any significant period of time. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
That left them in a lurch when, three weeks into the season, Vargas held a 14.21 ERA -- the roughly six-inning stretch that Callaway referenced. So they were relieved when Vargas began his solid run, which includes a 2.20 ERA since the Mets cast their vote of confidence in him. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
“This is who we signed,” Callaway said. “This is who we wanted.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
This is who Vargas is at his best. Tuesday, he again relied heavily on his changeup, throwing it nearly half the time, mostly down and away to right-handed hitters. It is that pitch, delivered in the high 70s, that allows his high-80s fastball to sneak up on hitters -- even elite hitters, such as those Vargas faced recently in New York and Los Angeles. He called this recent stretch an example of “working effectively, I guess,” which seems as apt a description as any. If there’s a secret as to what’s changed, Vargas isn’t revealing it. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
Still, Vargas never doubted that this run of success would come -- nor did the Mets' officials who signed him. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
“A rough six-and-a-third to start this year, and then he’s been lights-out,” Callaway said. “This is who he is. This is who we signed. It’s just good to see. You want your fifth starter out there doing what he’s doing.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/jason-vargas-beats-yankees-in-subway-series
The Yankees will both have an off -day on Wednesday and then will return to the diamond on Thursday when they visit the Chicago White Sox for a four game series. Meanwhile, the Mets will also have an off-day on Wednesday and return to the diamond on Thursday when they host Saint Louis.