The Yankees needed Game 5 starter James Paxton to pitch a gem Friday night facing elimination against Astros ace Justin Verlander, and in the biggest game of his Yankees career, Paxton answered all of his critics in New York with a magnificent performance.
Paxton found himself in jam in the top of the first inning, but managed to escape after allowing a single run on a wild pitch. The Yankees’ dormant offense responded immediately in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs off Verlander to take the pressure off their pitcher.
Paxton struck out three batters in the second, held the Astros to just two hits over the next four innings, and was never in danger of giving up a run. With his pitch count over 100 in the sixth inning, Yankees manager Aaron Boone made a trip to the mound to potentially pull Paxton from the game with two outs and a runner on first. Instead, Paxton told his manager “I’m good, let’s go,” and remained on the mound of finish the inning.
Even if the Yankees don’t complete a comeback in the ALCS, Paxton proved to many fans that he belongs on the mound in October with his showing on Friday.
