The Big Maple (James Paxton) Gets Out of a Jam, a breakdown
What Happened
In a crucial late-inning matchup at Yankee Stadium, right-hander James Paxton of the New York Yankees finds himself in a high-stakes situation, protecting a 2-0 lead against the rival Boston Red Sox. Designated hitter J.D. Martinez steps to the plate with Mookie Betts on third base and Xander Bogaerts on second, representing the potential tying and go-ahead runs for the Red Sox. Paxton, nicknamed "The Big Maple" for his Canadian roots, works carefully against Martinez, mixing a slider and 97 mph fastball to freeze the power hitter. Martinez fouls off the second pitch, but Paxton comes back with another blazing fastball to retire him. Next up is first baseman Steve Pearce. Paxton again relies on his slider and high-octane heater, eventually getting Pearce to foul off a 99 mph pitch at the top of the strike zone. With the count full, Paxton rears back and blows a 98 mph fastball past Pearce to record a crucial strikeout and keep the Red Sox off the board. The crowd at Yankee Stadium erupts as Mitch Moreland, the Red Sox's final hope, strides to the plate. Paxton continues his dominance, painting the bottom of the zone with a 90 mph slider that Moreland fouls off. On a 2-2 count, Paxton unleashes another wipeout slider, freezing Moreland for the final out and preserving the Yankees' 2-0 lead. As Paxton walks off the mound, he takes a moment to acknowledge the roaring Bronx faithful. "I know how to express myself," he says with a smile, alluding to his Canadian roots. The Yankees' All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge, who earlier threw out a runner at third base, celebrates with Paxton, high-fiving the big right-hander. "Let's go to Tim Hortons, bonbons on everyone!" Judge exclaims, referencing the popular Canadian donut and coffee chain. With Paxton's clutch performance, the New York Yankees maintain their lead and inch closer to a crucial victory over their longtime rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in this tense late-season showdown between American League powerhouses.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momenthuge at-bat in tonight's Yankees game JD
Martinez comes up little kiss of the
hands Mookie on third Bogaerts on second
James Paxton trying to hold the two
nothing lead the big maple little slider
you going fastball your friend how about
a little gas mask 97 you ever been a Tim
Horton's JD he says no no I haven't that
was a nice pitch though let's go out to
our camera on the moon for the second
pitch Paxton deals heater jams and fly
ball the judge is Mookie gonna test them
test and Mookie tussin no Mookie knows
better than that
judge gives him the 75% Mookie tucks at
the third base coaches like yet don't
run on that guy he's a monster
Steve Pearce comes up slider gasmasks
with a slider gas mask gas mask again 97
outside corner JD's like man that guy's
good I should go to Tim Hortons Steve
Pearce looking in slide piece 89 nasty
little pitch fouls it off good for you
Steve Pearce Paxton put him away dude 99
top of the zone it's to judge again
uh-oh he's coming home Mookie knows
better judge lets him know that time
right to the plate little bullet action
Paxson's like good thing we've got that
guy judge gives him a little hint
mr. steal your girl you know what's up
okay I see you Aaron all right Mitch
Moreland up the Red Sox final hope ooh
gas mask 98 bottom of the zone okay I
don't think you're getting that let's
run it back you go and slide or heater
slide or heater uh how about a little
slide trombone 90 bottom quadrant fouls
it off here we go I skipped one pitch
because it's a Yankees clip inside
fastball give it to a monkey's got a
family come on man that's alright Paxton
takes a deep breath he says yeah I'm
from the great white north I I know how
to express myself how about a little
tutu slide piece see ya later Mitch well
yeah let's [ __ ] go let's go to Tim
Hortons bonbons on everyone I like this
team I like that Judge guy let's go
Yanks let's do this more wait one more
time let's [ __ ] go yes