James Paxton Bounces Back, Gleyber Torres Hits Grand Slam As New York Tops Boston In The Opener In The Bronx

On Friday July 26th 2019 James Paxton was dealt the loss to Boston at Fenway Park where the left-hander gave up three homers to Mookie Betts in his first three at bats powering the Red Sox to a 10-5 drubbing of their rivals. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/mookie-betts-huge-game-vs-yankees

On Friday August 2nd James Paxton was on the mound once again against New York’s American League East rival but this time got a different result in the Bronx in the opening game of their four game series along with a contribution from Gleyber Torres.

- James Paxton's shoulders slumped ever so slightly as he returned to the dugout with three outs in the books, once again mystified by his continued inability to work a clean first inning. Then Gleyber Torres sent a grand slam into the left-field seats, and all seemed right within the Yankees' universe. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

That is the version of Paxton that the Yankees need to see more as they drive toward the postseason, especially now that they know their only reinforcements are likely to come from within. Torres' first-inning grand slam off Eduardo Rodriguez held up as the difference in a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox on Friday evening at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

"We're really confident in the guys in this room," Paxton said. "We've also got guys coming back that'll be like making trades. There's a lot of guys that are going to be coming back here and making a big difference. I think that the guys in this room can get it done." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

As Paxton noted, the quiet Trade Deadline leaves the Yanks banking on healthy returns from pitchers Luis Severino and Dellin Betances down the stretch, and they also expect to have Giancarlo Stanton's big bat in the lineup at some point. They did fine without all of that on Friday, sending the reeling Red Sox to their fifth straight loss. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

The first three Yankees reached against Rodriguez, who induced a foul popout that brought Torres to the plate with the bases loaded. That is a situation in which Torres has enjoyed success thus far in his young career; Torres owned nine hits in 23 at-bats with the sacks full, including a June 19 grand slam off the Rays' Oliver Drake. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

"He's a guy you want up in that situation," Boone said. "He likes being in that spot. He's able to really lock in and focus." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

Torres said he was looking for a first-pitch fastball that he could get the barrel of his bat to. Rodriguez obliged, firing a 95.4 mph fastball toward the inside corner. Connecting with a drive that came off his bat at 106.4 mph and soared 384 feet into the left-field seats, Torres provided all of the support that Paxton and the Yankees' bullpen would need. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

"I never think [about trying] to hit homers, just put the ball in play and try to hit really hard," Torres said. "It doesn't matter if it's a ground ball or a sacrifice. I just try to do my job, and I did." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

New York's American League East lead over the third-place Sox is 11 1/2 games heading into Saturday's separate-admission doubleheader. The second-place Rays are 7 1/2 games behind the Bombers, who recorded their Major League-leading 35th come-from-behind win as they bounced back from J.D. Martinez's first-inning homer.

"Our guys are ready to go and love playing with each other," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "They are confident. We know we’re up against a good team. It's Boston, it's the weekend. It's easy to be ready for that. I thought we went out and played a clean game." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

With Paxton done after 100 pitches, Tommy Kahnle pitched around a single in the seventh before Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman worked perfect frames. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu made a leaping stab of a Sam Travis liner to seal Chapman's 28th save in 33 opportunities. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

"We're just trying to rack up wins right now," Boone said. "There's still a couple of months to go in this thing. Anytime you can rack up a win against a division opponent that is as capable as the Red Sox are, you enjoy those a little more, frankly." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-grand-slam-james-paxton-lead-yankees

Unlike, last week Boston had a setback in the opening game of the series against New York.

When Eduardo Rodriguez allowed a first-inning grand slam to Gleyber Torres on Friday at Yankee Stadium, it did not appear that the Red Sox lefty was long for the game. After a single followed the slam, Rodriguez induced a double play, and proceeded to not allow another run for the rest of his outing. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

On a night when the Red Sox sorely needed length from their starter, heading into a Saturday doubleheader and having just placed a reliever on the injured list, Rodriguez delivered, despite the four runs allowed. The Yankees won, 4-2. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

"Struggled with command in the first inning. After that, he was outstanding," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

Ultimately, Rodriguez pitched 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking six. Not a line to write home about, but one that helped set his team up for the rest of this series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

Rodriguez became the first Red Sox pitcher with at least six walks and eight or more strikeouts in an outing since Pedro Martinez on April 22, 2003. If anything, that shows how infrequent it is for a pitcher with that kind of location issues to remain in the game. But, Rodriguez did. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

Asked if this outing was a sign of Rodriguez's ongoing maturation, and if he would have settled down in the same way last year, Cora cited that there's been a transformation. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

"I think he's in a great spot," Cora said. "Last year, he would've just put his head down and it was going to be a short one. Now, he just kept working, kept making pitches, made adjustments. ... His stuff was really good. His command, for the first three hitters, it was off. Too bad, because he actually pitched a very good game." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

Despite settling down and keeping his team in it, Rodriguez felt he let his team down. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

"I failed on my part," he said. "Give up those four runs, they score two runs for me, and I fail on my part." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

Cora noted that the theme of a rough first inning and then settling down was true on both sides -- Yankees starter James Paxton allowed a two-run home run to J.D. Martinez in the first, but, like Rodriguez, did not allow any further damage. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

"I thought the game was going to be 13-2 [after the first inning]," Cora said. "It's a game of adjustments, and they made their adjustments. Eduardo did. And it was a great pitched ballgame the rest of the night." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

Though it's an inopportune time for such a game, as it extended the Red Sox losing streak to five games, Cora viewed the game more as an isolated day, pointing out the differences between the series against the Rays and this game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

"I'm not frustrated today. I was more frustrated with the way we played in Tampa," he said. "It was just a good baseball game. It happens." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/eduardo-rodriguez-falls-vs-yankees

New York and Boston will return to the diamond Saturday afternoon in the Bronx where they will play a split doubleheader.