James Paxton Struggles As New York Drops Their Second Straight To Boston

Much like the opening game of the four game series at Fenway Park where Masahiro Tanaka permitted twelve runs New York’s starting pitching struggled yet again in game two.

This time with James Paxton on the mound.

The first inning has been a mystery for James Paxton, so the left-hander is beginning his warm-ups earlier, attempting to trick his body into producing sharper pitches. It's an interesting concept, but nothing the Yankees attempted on Friday was going to fool Mookie Betts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

The reigning American League MVP homered in his first three at-bats against Paxton, who was hammered for seven runs over four innings as the Yankees' run of subpar starting pitching extended into a sixth consecutive game, a 10-5 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

I went out there and gave it everything I had," Paxton said. "I wanted to be able to give some length tonight. Unfortunately, I didn't do that. Hopefully we can get this thing turned around starting tomorrow." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

As ugly as the recent skid has been -- the Yanks have permitted 64 runs in their last six games, dropping four of those contests -- they continue to hold a sizable advantage in the American League East. There will be no burying of the Red Sox, at least not this weekend, but the Yankees still pace the division by 8 1/2 games (9 ahead of Boston) and 10 in the loss column. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

"It's obviously been a rough week for us," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "All we can do is dive in and best we can try to tighten things up, get things corrected and make sure we're doing all we can to go out and execute. Because we do know we're capable." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

General manager Brian Cashman continues to send up flares in search of pitching assistance, saying before Friday's game that he remains in pursuit of both starters and relievers. While Cashman calls and texts the competition, the task of righting the ship will fall upon CC Sabathia's broad shoulders on Saturday afternoon. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

Sabathia has long been regarded as the Yanks' stopper, but this slide is unlike any that the veteran has witnessed in his 19 seasons; New York starters have gone 0-4 with a 17.86 ERA over their last six starts, permitting 43 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

"That's baseball," Sabathia said. "That's the ups and downs of the big leagues. We just want to play well. We want to win the division, and keep playing good baseball." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

Betts finished the evening with four hits and five RBIs, recording a career-high 14 total bases, while J.D. Martinez also homered and drove in three runs. Betts is the fourth Red Sox player to hit three homers against the Yankees, joining Mo Vaughn (1997), Kevin Millar (2004) and Steve Pearce (2018). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

"You're not really thinking," Betts said. "That's the main thing, you kind of turn your brain off and just play. That's when everybody is at their best." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

Paxton's first-inning ERA ballooned to an even 11.00 as he placed the Yankees down early, on his way to compiling a bizarre line that generates only one historical comparison. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

Paxton is the second Major Leaguer to allow seven or more earned runs in four or fewer innings while striking out at least nine batters without a walk. The other was the Mets' Noah Syndergaard, who struck out 10 Padres over four innings of seven-run ball on June 6, 2015. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

Stuff-wise, I thought he was electric," Boone said of Paxton. "You saw him go in and out of dominance. I mean, nine strikeouts, no walks. The cutter was really good tonight in a lot of spots. The fastball was really good in a lot of spots. But then there were a number of mistakes they were all over." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

Paxton has allowed seven runs in consecutive starts for the first time in his career, having permitted seven (four earned) to the Rockies on July 21. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

"I thought I threw the ball pretty well, but they didn't miss pitches I made mistakes on," Paxton said of the Red Sox. "They were really swinging it tonight." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

Luke Voit and Austin Romine drove in runs against Andrew Cashner, who held New York to three runs and 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings. Romine and Didi Gregorius added ninth-inning RBIs that made the score slightly more respectable. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

"I think it helps when you get an early lead," said Cameron Maybin, who went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk in his return from the injured list. "You've got to tip your hat to their offense, and tip your hat to [Cashner] for not wasting too many pitches tonight." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-allows-four-home-runs-in-loss

While New York’s starting pitching struggles continued Boston’s offense continued to flourish.

Once again on Friday night, Mookie Betts got caught up in that zone that only the elite athletes can truly relate to. The star right fielder could feel himself just playing on instinct and his lightning-quick wrists and powerful bat did the rest. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

The result? Betts launched homers over the Green Monster in each of his first three at-bats against Yankees lefty James Paxton at Fenway Park, powering the Red Sox to a 10-5 drubbing of their rivals. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

Remarkably for Betts, it was the fifth time he has hit three homers in a game, as he extended his own club record. Only eight players in MLB history have had five games with three homers or more. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

What does it feel like to get in that state? “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"You're not really thinking," said Betts. "That's the main thing, you kind of turn your brain off and just play. That's when everybody is at their best." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

etts would be the first to acknowledge he hasn't been able to turn his brain off enough in 2019. He was expending a lot of energy trying to figure out why he couldn't recapture the results he had in that magical season of a year ago, when he hit .346 with 32 homers and seemed to be slump-proof. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

Betts looks like he is getting back to that point. After an inconsistent first three months of the season, Betts is smoking-hot at the moment, hitting .395 in July with five homers, 17 RBIs and a 1.175 OPS. For the season, Betts now has a sturdy line of .289/.399/.507 with 18 homers and 54 RBIs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

It is hard enough to hold Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts down, but now that Betts is hitting like an MVP again, the Red Sox look truly dangerous. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"It's always cool when he smiles on the field," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "Today was one of those big nights. Hopefully this is the beginning of something great here." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

The night started with some good vibes, as Betts entertained Nico Sapienza, a 10-year-old from Saugus, Mass., who was there as a guest of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Sapienza's wish was to meet Betts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

But Betts made sure that Sapienza also met several of his teammates during batting practice, and Cora. Once the game started, Sapienza hoped to see his hero go deep in person. Betts wound up giving him that thrill, times three. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"I'm glad he came," Betts said. "He was our good luck charm. He's a great kid. I think him and his family had fun down in BP, and I think if I can kind of use the platform that I have to make people smile like that, then I know I've done something well." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

Friday was one of those days Betts excelled on and off the field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"Mookie, besides being a great player, he's a great person. And that's what he does," Cora said. "Everybody knows what he did in the World Series last year after Game 1 [by bringing food to a homeless shelter]. He's a guy with a great heart." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

And a dangerous bat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

With just one more three-homer game, the 26-year-old Betts will tie Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa for the most ever. Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Dave Kingman, Carlos Delgado and Joe Carter are the others who have done it five times.”according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"Any time your name is in the history books you know you've done something well," said Betts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

It was the fourth straight night in MLB that someone had a three-homer game, with Betts joining Robinson Cano, Paul DeJong and Nelson Cruz. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"It's crazy just to see it once. But I guess to see it four straight days, there's a lot of good hitters out there and they're showing it," said Betts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

Backed by the rejuvenation of Betts (4-for-5, four runs, five RBIs, 14 total bases) and the starting rotation (Andrew Cashner got his first Boston win in this one), the defending World Series champions are starting to resemble the team everyone thought they would be in the first place. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

A season-high 11 games above .500 (58-47), the Sox are still nine behind the Yankees for the top spot in the American League East after belting them around Fenway in the first two games of this four-game set. But the Sox are now just a half-game back for the second spot in the AL Wild Card standings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"Now is the time," said Betts. "It's late. Or getting later. You have to start stringing together some wins, and we're doing that." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

Friday was less about the standings and more about Betts putting on an absolute show. Betts was two bases shy of Fred Lynn's Red Sox record of 16 total bases in a game, set on June 18, 1975. Dustin Pedroia was the most recent Red Sox batter to get 15, doing so on June 24, 2010, vs. the Rockies. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

Betts wasted no time thrilling the Fenway faithful, going deep in the first, third and fourth innings against a bewildered Paxton. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"He just wasn't missing," said Paxton. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

With the crowd roaring behind Betts in hopes he could become the first player in Red Sox history to hit four homers in a game, they watched him belt an RBI double in the sixth and ground to third in the eighth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

Betts felt the love. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

"Just a lot of energy," said Betts. "It's great to know that your home crowd is paying that much attention." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

When Betts is in that zone, all of Red Sox Nation takes notice. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

The two American L:eague East rivals will continue their series with game three on Saturday where New York will look to avoid their third straight loss to Boston while Boston will look to win the series.