New York Wins In James Paxton's Return To The Mound

New York’s rotation got healthier with James Paxton’s return to the mound and he followed that up with a shutout of San Diego.

Paxton threw 66 pitches to the Padres over four innings and did not allow a hit, departing with the Yankees leading, 3-0, on three solo homers from DJ LeMahieu, Luke Voit and Gio Urshela. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

The Yankees tacked on a few more runs, including two on Gleyber Torres' 14th homer of the season, for a 7-0 victory at Yankee Stadium to close out the Interleague series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

“It was really good seeing him back out there and just pitching so well,” Boone said after the game. “Picked up right where he left off. Had good command and feel of the fastball, the slider-cutter was a really good pitch for him today and he was mostly real efficient. ... Four really strong innings by him to kind of set the tone for us today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

Boone briefly considered sending Paxton back out for the fifth inning, but he was close to his pitch count. Paxton said after the game that he expects to be closer to 80 pitches in his next start, and then should be back to his normal workload for the start after that.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

That’s good news for the Yankees’ rotation, which has been strong but could use the length, once Paxton gets there, as well as the reliability.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

“When he’s out there, he can be a dominating force on the mound,” Boone said. “Hopefully now as we build him back up, [he's] a guy that not only can go out there and dominate, but a guy that hopefully we can look to to really pitch us deep into games, because that’s certainly what he’s capable of.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

Pitching for the first time since May 3 after spending time on the injured list with inflammation in his left knee, Paxton did not appear to labor at any point, striking out seven. He induced 17 swinging strikes, just three shy of his season high of 20, done three times. He threw at least 99 pitches in each of those three outings, though, and managed 17 swinging strikes on far fewer pitches than in Wednesday’s start. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

The velocity of his four-seam fastball was 94.4 mph, below his season average of 95.6 mph, but it was what his fellow Yankees and opponents were raving about after the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

“Unbelievable. He looked like he didn’t miss a month,” Voit said. “His fastball was effective up in the zone and he got guys chasing his slider down and in. We needed that, and it’s nice to have one of our big studs back, and for him to come out and do that was pretty awesome.””according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

Paxton, too, credited “some good high fastballs” for part of his success. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

The Padres, on the receiving end, were aware of that fastball prowess, too. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

“It was fastball with carry, more than anything,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “Then, when you're trying to catch up with the fastball, he got his offspeed down well today. You get those two things working well together, he becomes really tough.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

Paxton said his knee didn’t impede his pitching. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

“It felt pretty good the last few days playing catch," Paxton said. "And I wasn’t really too worried about it. Obviously, in the bullpen before the game, I was feeling for it to see how it felt. It was good enough. And [it] felt good to get back out there.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

Paxton became the first Yankees starter to turn in a hitless outing of more than an inning since Domingo Germán went six hitless innings on May 6, 2018, against the Indians. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

Chad Green entered in relief of Paxton and pitched a hitless fifth. The no-hitter ended when Wil Myers blooped a single off Adam Ottavino -- and LeMahieu's glove -- to lead off the sixth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-throws-4-hitless-innings-in-return

Meanwhile after evening the series San Diego suffered a setback.

Chris Paddack is 23. He's a rookie. He'd only made seven starts at Double-A before cracking the Padres’ rotation this spring.”according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Sure, Paddack’s first month in the big leagues was spectacular. But things weren’t always going to play out so smoothly. With the Padres’ 7-0 loss to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, the brazen right-hander encountered another roadblock on another big stage. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Paddack doesn’t often leave changeups with no movement in the middle of the strike zone. But he did that to the first batter he faced. DJ LeMahieu hit it out.”according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Paddack doesn’t often lose command of his pinpoint fastball. But he did that to the second batter he faced. Luke Voit hit it out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Clearly, the outspoken Paddack has begun to develop a reputation, and the Yankees were more than eager to put a dent into it. They needed only two batters to do so. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

“The guys were excited coming in today, an opportunity to face this guy that’s kind of taken the league by storm,” said Yankees skipper Aaron Boone. “He is going to be a great pitcher. So I think they were excited, and they had a really good game plan.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

“The guy pretty much went from high [Class] A, Double-A to the show,” Voit said. "It’s the big leagues. It’s hard to pitch here. … Credit, you’ve got good stuff. But we had a good game plan.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

New York hitters took Paddack deep three times, and they tagged him for four earned runs on six hits -- both career highs. He got better as the day progressed, but by then it was too late. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

The Padres went hitless in four innings against James Paxton in his return from the injured list. They mustered only four hits on the afternoon, striking out 10 times and swinging through 24 pitches. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Paddack, meanwhile, missed his share of bats, recording 11 whiffs and six strikeouts. Afterward, he said there were no lingering effects of the stiff neck that forced the Padres to push his outing from Sunday to Wednesday.”according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Whatever the reason for Paddack's slow start, the Padres are counting on him to bounce back. On two big stages this season -- at Dodger Stadium two weeks ago and on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium -- he’s posted his two worst outings.”according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

“He's got a lot to learn as he pitches on the mound in big stadiums on the road,” said manager Andy Green. “It's a good opportunity to challenge yourself. He's going to keep growing from it. We're all excited, as an organization, to see where he goes.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

The Padres, of course, have every right to be excited about Paddack. Even with Wednesday’s loss, his ERA sits at 2.40, and he’s striking out hitters at a 28 percent clip. It’s also clear that he isn’t quite a finished product. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

“You want to pitch in postseason games? There are steps to doing that from being in Double-A last year,” Green said. “Some of that is pitching on the road in Yankee Stadium, pitching on the road in Dodger Stadium, taking what you can from each experience and growing.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Knowing Paddack -- an incessant worker with “relentless” stitched onto the outside of his glove -- the Padres think that’s exactly what he’ll do. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Despite Wednesday’s outcome, the Padres finished their road trip through two tricky American League cities with a 3-3 record. They’ll return to San Diego with a 29-27 record, squarely in the early National League Wild Card mix.”according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Opportunity awaits. In their next four series, the Padres have nine games against the three worst teams in the NL -- Miami, Washington and San Francisco. Their upcoming 10-game homestand could be season-defining. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

If San Diego can take advantage of weaker opposition, it could alter the front office’s plans as trade season approaches. The Padres still aren’t favorites to make a push for Craig Kimbrel or Dallas Keuchel after next week’s Draft, but if they’re lingering on the fringe of contention, general manager A.J. Preller might be aggressive in pursuit of a starting pitcher. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Green, meanwhile, prefers to focus on the short-term. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

“We’re 29-27, just past Memorial Day,” he said. “It’s a long season, long way to go.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Look what I found!

Adam Warren was hit hard in his return to Yankee Stadium, allowing three runs in 1 1/3 innings, but he provided the defensive highlight of the day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

LeMahieu hit a one-hopper up the middle as Warren fell off the mound to the right side. He stuck his glove behind his back, just in time for the ball to settle squarely into its webbing.”according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

Warren took one step and threw to first, then tried to contain a smile as he trotted back toward the dugout.”according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/chris-paddack-allows-three-homers-in-loss

With the win, New York who is a member of the American League East improves to 36-19 while San Diego who is a member of the National League West drops to 29-27 on the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

New York will now return to action in their division as they take on Boston on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium but like mother nature has done most of the week it might decide if they get the opening game of their four game series in.