Paxton powers Yankees
Yankees starter James Paxton delivers during the first
NEW YORK — James Paxton struck out 12 in his first stab at baseball’s biggest rivalry, Red Sox ace Chris Sale found his fastball but not better results, and the Yankees three-hit the World Series champions 8-0 on Tuesday night in the first game this season between the struggling AL East foes.
Paxton (2-2) pitched two-hit ball for eight innings, walking one and going to just two three-ball counts in a game that took only 2 hours, 23 minutes.
Mike Tauchman hit his first major league homer and drove in four runs, and Clint Frazier and Gleyber Torres also went deep for the Yankees, who had dropped five of six and are 7-9 a year after winning 100 games.
Sale (0-4) reached 97.5 mph — a positive sign after his velocity sagged this spring — but still got hit around, allowing four runs and seven hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked one while the the Red Sox dropped to 6-12.
The longtime rivals hadn’t played with both teams below .500 this deep into a season since 1992.
Acquired from the Mariners in an offseason trade, Paxton adjusted well after Yankees special adviser Carlos Beltran informed the left-hander he was tipping pitches during a lousy start last week in Houston. Yankees manager Aaron Boone also said before the game he thought Paxton’s stuff had dulled a bit since spring training.
It all clicked Tuesday. The big left-hander reached 99 mph, striking out four of his first six batters and six straight later. Paxton saluted the cheering crowd after retiring AL MVP Mookie Betts to end his night.
All-Star Game: The 2026 All-Star Game will be played in Philadelphia to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement Tuesday at Independence Hall with a cast of All-Stars past and present. Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt and six-time All-Star Bryce Harper were the last two speakers to address the crowd. This will be the first All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, which opened in 2004. The 1976 All-Star Game was played at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia to mark the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Rays: Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell was placed on the 10-day injured list after he broke a toe on his right foot while at home Sunday night. Snell, 26, got hurt when he got out of the shower and then attempted to move a large granite item. The left-hander said it was a “really dumb” move. He added: “It’s like a three-piece set and this pole that comes up like 21⁄2, 3 feet. Went to move it, I lifted it up and it wasn’t glued to the pole and the pole came crushing down.” Snell is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts this season. He’s eligible to return April 24 and thinks he might miss just one start. The Rays promoted RHP Emilio Pagan from Triple-A Durham before Tuesday night’s home game against the Orioles.
Cubs: The league is investigating racist messages sent to Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. on Instagram this month. Edwards was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after he had trouble with his motion and got off to a tough start this season. Lee Long, Edwards’ agent, said the messages came from a couple different people. The 27-year-old Edwards, who’s black, declined comment through a spokeswoman for the Iowa Cubs.
Angels: Two-way player Shohei Ohtani will not go on a minor league rehab assignment or participate in extended spring training games before he joins the Angels batting order for the first time this season. GM Billy Eppler said Ohtani will finish his rehab with the big-league club, getting at-bats against pitchers in simulated games. The 2018 AL rookie of the year is expected to come off the IL in May and serve as the Angels’ DH. Ohtani had elbow ligament replacement surgery in October and will not pitch in 2019.
Mets: LHP Steven Matz allowed eight runs in the first inning without recording an out, a feat performed only five other times since 1893. In just 20 minutes against the Phillies, Matz’s ERA rose from 1.96 to 4.96. He threw 31 pitches, faced eight batters, allowed six earned runs on four hits, including two HRs, and hit Bryce Harper on the wrist.
Extra innings: Yankees 1B Greg Bird was placed on the IL with a left plantar fascia tear. It’s unclear when he suffered this injury . ... The Red Sox recalled C Sandy Leon and designated backup C Blake Swihart for assignment. Leon, who spent the first few weeks of the season in Triple A, started against the Yankees. Christian Vazquez is the Red Sox’s primary starting catcher.