James Paxton of Delta, British Columbia made New York Yankees history on Sunday. Paxton became the first New York Yankees pitcher ever to have back-to-back games with 12 strikeouts and zero earned runs allowed.
Paxton accomplished the feat in a 7-6 Yankees win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Unfortunately for the Big Maple, Paxton did not get the win as he left the game after six innings with the Yankees leading 5-0. The Royals then scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 6-5 lead before the Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning and then won it in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Paxton initially had 12 strikeouts and zero walks in a 8-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on April 16. In eight innings of work there, he only gave up two hits. In the last two starts, Paxton has only given up one walk in each game.
On the season in five starts, Paxton has a record of two wins and two losses, an earned run average of 3.10, a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.14, 43 strikeouts and eight walks. He is currently the Yankees second starter in the rotation behind Masahiro Tanaka.
The Yankees meanwhile have now won four straight games. After sweeping the Kansas City Royals, they beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4-3 in 14 innings on Monday. The Yankees are currently in second place in the American League East and two and a half games back of the division leading Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees also trail the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians by half a game in the American League wildcard.
