James Paxton Picks Up Sixth Straight Win, New York Sweeps Seattle
James Paxton picked up his sixth straight win in the finale against Seattle but this victory had to be a little more special for the left-hander because it was against his former team where he spent the first six years of his career in the Major Leagues.
Pax all, folks
Paxton said that it felt "weird" to be on the mound in Seattle, where he pitched the first six seasons of his Major League career, though he tried to look past the familiar opposing uniforms and focus on pounding Sanchez's glove. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
That allowed Paxton to hold his former club hitless until the fourth inning, when Kyle Seager cracked a game-tying, two-run homer to right field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
"I was just trying not to think about it," Paxton said. "These guys make it easier on me when they're scoring that many runs. It's awesome to put runs on the board like that." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
That fourth inning cost Paxton, who lost command of the strike zone and issued four of his five walks. Though Paxton threw just 45 of 86 pitches for strikes, the lefty still improved to 6-0 in August by completing five innings of one-hit ball.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
It was definitely strange to be on the other side," Seager said. "I obviously played with him for quite a few years. I’m happy for him and the success he’s having over there, but not so happy about it today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
As for the New York offense,
- It took all of 19 pitches for the Yankees' traveling power show to continue its barrage against West Coast pitching, as Gary Sánchez tracked the flight of his drive down the left-field line. The pure sensation of ball meeting bat ensured that distance was not going to be an issue.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
Sanchez's drive stayed true in fair territory, and the Bombers were only getting started. Mike Ford, Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu also went deep as the Yankees extended their Major League record for homers in a calendar month, completing a three-game sweep of the Mariners with a 7-3 victory Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
We've still got a couple of games to complete the month," said Sanchez, the first catcher to enjoy multiple 30-homer seasons since the Braves' Javy Lopez in 1998 and 2003. "Home runs, they come on their own. That's the kind of team we have. We go out to compete, and we find ourselves hitting homers." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
After Sanchez's homer landed near the top of the upper deck, Ford slugged his third homer of the series as the Yankees pounded Sheffield for five runs in 4 1/3 frames. Judge remained hot by greeting Matt Wisler with a towering two-run blast in the fifth inning, Judge's fifth in six games.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
LeMahieu added a solo shot in the ninth. With two games remaining before the calendar flips to September, the Bombers have now slugged 70 homers in 28 August games, shattering a previous record of 58 shared by the 1987 Orioles and the 1999 Mariners.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
"That was what we needed; two homers to get us started and let Paxton cruise a little bit," Judge said. "This whole road trip is just trying to get ahead of guys and let guys do their thing." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
While the former Seattle Mariner and current New York Yankees left-hander picked up his sixth straight win his former team was swept by his current team.
The Mariners have seen plenty of James Paxton over the years, but never on the mound for an opposing team. Turns out it wasn’t a very pleasant experience as Seattle managed just one hit off Paxton in five innings while the Yankees pulled off a series sweep at T-Mobile Park with a 7-3 victory on Wednesday afternoon.”according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
Paxton, who threw a no-hitter for the Mariners last season, didn’t quite have his "A" game intact as he walked five in his first time facing his former club with the Yankees. But the lone damage done came on a two-run Kyle Seager homer in the fourth inning as Paxton improved to 11-6 with a 4.39 ERA.
It was definitely strange to be on the other side,” Seager said. “I obviously played with him for quite a few years. I’m happy for him and the success he’s having over there, but not so happy about it today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
Seager’s hit was the only one allowed by the big lefty, who improved to 6-0 with a 3.57 ERA in six August starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
“A lot of angle there,” Seager said. “He throws hard. The cutter was big. He’s definitely tough. We knew that going in. I’ve witnessed him do this on quite a few occasions.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
Seager has nine homers and 25 RBIs in 23 games this month, while batting .329 (27-for-82). He’s raised his season totals to .250 with 18 homers and 50 RBIs after missing the first two months with a hand injury and then getting off to a slow start at the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
The nine home runs are the most Seager has ever hit in a month, and he now has 472 extra-base hits in his Mariners career, one shy of tying Ichiro Suzuki for fourth in franchise history. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
Justus Sheffield, one of three prospects acquired by Seattle in the Paxton trade last November, took the loss as he allowed six hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
Sheffield, making just the second start of his MLB career, surrendered a two-run blast to Gary Sanchez in the first, then steadied himself and at one point retired nine in a row before Mike Ford led off the fifth with a homer to right. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
“I thought Justus really made some strides forward today,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “That’s certainly not an easy lineup to try to get through. I thought his stuff was really good. He gave up the home run early to Sanchez, but he settled in and I thought he threw the ball really well. That’s something to build off of there.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
Servais draws comparisons between Paxton, early in his career, and Sheffield, as he’s just starting out at age 23. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
“When I first got here, Paxton started in the Minor Leagues that year and people were like, ‘Oh, we don’t know about James Paxton. What are we going to get out of this guy?'" Servais recalled. “All the sudden, he develops, you let him grow, he’s learning some things and now Pax is a dude. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
“On the flip side, we’ve got Sheffield almost in the same spot,” said Servais. “If you remember some of the early Paxton outings, there were some growing pains. They figure it out, the talented ones do. That’s where we see Sheff going forward with him. We’re excited about his future, but knowing it’s going to be a stepping process.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
The Yankees finished 6-1 in their season series against the Mariners and are 16-4 against Seattle since 2017 “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees.
The Mariners managed seven walks off four Yankees pitchers, but just three hits as they fell to 56-78. The Yankees have the best record in the American League at 88-47. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-lose-to-james-paxton-yankees
After an off day on Thursday New York will return to the Bronx to open a three game series against Oakland whom they were swept by to begin their West Coast trip.