New York Can't Complete The Sweep As Colorado Salvages The Finale
Despite taking the first two games as well as winning the series New York who is a member of the American League East couldn’t complete the sweep of Colorado who is a member of the National League West.
Just 3 1/3 innings into Sunday’s game against the Rockies, Yankees starter James Paxton put his head down and walked off the field at Yankee Stadium. His infielders tried to console him, patting him with their gloves as manager Aaron Boone stuck his hand out for the ball, but there wasn’t much they could do except watch him leave to a mixed chorus of cheers and boos.
It seemed to be a fitting microcosm of both Paxton’s afternoon and his year as a whole. After an 8-4 loss to Colorado, the left-hander dropped to 5-5 on the season. He gave up a leadoff homer to Charlie Blackmon and a four-spot in the third inning before letting two men on in the fourth, which ended his outing.
Coming into the matchup, Paxton seemed to be rediscovering the form that made him a standout pitcher last season. He was attempting to string together four straight starts with two or fewer runs allowed -- which he last did from May 19 to June 5, 2018 while becoming the ace of the Seattle Mariners rotation.
But inconsistency has been the theme of the season for Paxton up to this point, and a four-week stint on the injured list for right knee inflammation during the month of May has seemed to be a through line in the left-hander’s struggles.
“His season got a little interrupted there with the IL stint, so it’s been a little disjoined there,” Boone said. “But I think overall he’s been good for us, and I think even in some of his best outings, he’s had a chance to get really deep in the game. I think there’s been just some at-bats where it’s foul balls or soft contact to extend an inning in a game he’s pitched very well that hasn’t allowed him to get as deep as he can.”
On Sunday, that phenomenon reared its ugly head as the third inning went off the rails. After Paxton gave up a leadoff walk, Tony Wolters attempted a sacrifice bunt, but a fielding error by Luke Voit at first base allowed both runners to reach on the play. Then Blackmon, who had already homered on a two-seam fastball that Boone suspected was left “on the plate a little too much,” singled to load the bases for Nolan Arenado.
Arenado hit a double down the left-field line to score two runs, and after another Paxton walk later in the frame, David Dahl hit a single to center that plated another pair. Paxton didn’t fare much better in the fourth -- giving up another leadoff walk and Blackmon single -- before his day came to an abrupt end.
“I just didn’t locate very well,” Paxton said. “I was falling behind in counts, not executing my pitches the way I wanted to, so that was on me. I wasn’t throwing strikes with the fastball -- and walking guys, [I] can’t walk that many guys -- giving up hits when I was behind in the count.”
Though Paxton is adamant that his knee is no longer a concern, he is still trying to find the rhythm in his delivery that has been lacking so far this year.
“I just didn’t have a very good game today, didn’t have a feel for my fastball,” Paxton said. “But I’ll get back to work like I always do and try to bounce back. I was on a bit of a roll with the past three -- little blip today -- but I’m hoping to get back on a roll and pull off some good starts in a row moving forward.”
Between Paxton and Saturday’s starter Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees starters have now allowed at least five runs in each of their last two games, which comes after a stretch during which the rotation allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of the Yanks’ first 14 games in July. The club has been vocal about its desire for starting pitching ahead of the impending July 31 Trade Deadline, though that doesn’t seem to be on Boone’s mind at the moment.
“I think if you look back at some of [Paxton’s] outings, it’s been a little unfortunate in there,” Boone said. “I think overall [Paxton’s] throwing the ball really well, and I view him as a guy we’re going to lean on heavily down the stretch, and hopefully in October.”
With the loss, New York drops to 64-34 on the regular season and still leading the American League East by 9.0 games over Tampa Bay.
While New York was unable to sweep Colorado they were able to salvage a game out of the three game series.
- Although the Rockies lost to the Yankees on Saturday afternoon, manager Bud Black saw signs of life on offense after they scored five runs in the sixth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
Black was looking for that to carry over into Sunday’s game, and it happened as the Rockies snapped their six-game losing streak by beating the Yankees, 8-4, at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
The hitting barrage started in the first inning when Charlie Blackmon led off the game with a home run off left-hander James Paxton. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
“That’s more like Charlie. That was a good statement by Charlie. A home run to lead off the game and he sprayed the ball around, and that’s what Charlie does,” Black said.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
Blackmon ended up with four hits in the game and scored three runs. The four hits are the most by a Rockies player at Yankee Stadium (new or old) in franchise history. Blackmon joins Carlos González (2016) and Juan Pierre (2002) as the only Rockies with a four-hit game vs. the Yankees (they both did it in Colorado). “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
Prior to Sunday’s game, Blackmon was 1-for-9 in the series. He admitted he was a little fatigued and not seeing the ball well, but Sunday was a different story. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
“I didn’t change anything drastically. I just simplified it a little bit. It was a good day,” Blackmon said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
Paxton’s problems against the Rockies continued in the third inning, when Colorado scored four runs, highlighted by David Dahl’s two-run single. An inning later, the Rockies plated a pair thanks to a two-run double by Trevor Story. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
“I thought we had good at-bats against Paxton,” Black said. “As the game went on -- even though they limited us late in the game, I still thought our overall approach was good.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
It was plenty of support for right-hander German Márquez, who was dealing on Sunday, going seven innings while allowing two runs on three hits. It was the Rockies’ first quality start since July 14.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
The last time Marquez had a quality start was June 21 against the Dodgers, when he pitched eight innings, allowed an earned run and picked up a no-decision. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
Things got off to a slow start for Marquez on Sunday when he allowed a leadoff home run on his first pitch of the game to DJ LeMahieu, re-igniting the friendly rivalry between the former Rockies infielder and Blackmon. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
“I wanted to punch [LeMahieu] in the face, but that’s good baseball. That’s good execution. He could have made a one-pitch out,” Blackmon joked about his best friend’s home run. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
But Marquez settled in after that and held the Yankees scoreless until the fifth inning, when he gave up a solo homer to Mike Tauchman. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
“I thought his breaking ball was outstanding today,” Black said. “Even the fastball got a little better as the game went on as far as location. Still, in the seventh inning, he threw a fastball 98 miles an hour, so he was still pretty fresh. He did a nice job of being efficient. He didn’t have a taxing inning. The slider and the curveball were effective.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
Said Rockies catcher Tony Wolters, “[Marquez] was controlling the whole game, controlling his body. He executed his fastball when he needed to, and he threw a decent amount of changeups. His curveball was electric today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
With the win Colorado improves to 47-52 on the regular season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/german-marquez-rebounds-to-shut-down-yankees
New York will now begin a seven game road trip starting in Minnesota where they will face the Twins for three games beginning Monday night.