NEW YORK � Even as they coast toward a division title, the Yankees have a lot of uncertainty about the October readiness of their starting rotation.
And then there are nights like Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, when James Paxton dials up a gem.
If he's this type of third choice behind an effective Masahiro Tanaka and Domingo German, it could be a memorable autumn in New York.
All told, it became one of those easy-to-dream on nights as Paxton zipped through the Rangers lineup, while the Yankees bashed their way to a 10-1 win before 33,711 fans.
For an MLB-record 21st straight season, the Yankees have eclipsed three million in home attendance.
Paxton rolled up 12 strikeouts and the Yankees belted five home runs � two by Gary Sanchez � in a quick, offensive response to the club's first shutout in over a calendar year.
On Monday, the Rangers blanked the Yankees for the first time since June 30, 2018 against Boston, ending a 220-game run-scoring streak, the second-longest in the Modern Era.
Didi Gregorius smashed a three-run homer to kick off a six-run sixth inning, breaking up a 2-0 game and providing Paxton (12-6) a lot more breathing room than he actually needed.
By the time Texas got its first base hit � a clean single to right by Isiah Kiner-Falefa with two out in the fifth inning � Paxton already had nine strikeouts.
And that was the only hit allowed by Paxton over seven innings. He walked one batter and used just 95 pitches to record his seventh straight victory.
Paxton hasn't lost a game since July 26 at Boston.
Sanchez launched a first-inning, two-run homer off opener Edinson Volquez in the first inning, driving in the first Yankees runs since Mike Ford's walk-off home run in Sunday's ninth inning against Oakland.
Two batters later, Brett Garnder greeted Jonathan Hernandez by crashing his 20th homer of the year for an 8-0 lead.
Sanchez threatened to go deep again in the seventh, right after fouling a ball off his lower left leg � requiring the attention of head athletic trainer Steve Donohue.
The at-bat ended with Sanchez getting drilled on the left elbow � unprotected by any guard � with a Rafael Montero fastball.
