HOUSTON — James Paxton really needs to get to work. The Yankees will see early how Paxton deals with adversity.
The lefty who came over in a trade from the Mariners in a deal that cost highly touted prospect Justus Sheffield was hammered Wednesday night in his first Yankees start against a contending team.
He could not get an out in the fifth inning and left after giving up his second home run to Jose Altuve and a single to Michael Brantley as the Astros topped the Yankees, 8-6, to sweep the three-game series at Minute Maid Park.
It was a house of horrors from start to finish these three games for the Yankees.
“I just didn’t have the extra gear,’’ said Paxton, who dropped to 1-2. “So I will get to work between this start and my next one and try to figure out what’s going on. Over the next few days I will look at video and see if there is something going on with my delivery.’’
Sure, Paxton had two starts against the rebuilding Orioles, going 1-1, but this was against a team the Yankees plan to battle in October. Paxton came into the night with a 7-3 record and 2.89 ERA against the Astros in 12 career starts and was 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA last season.
No. 13 was unlucky.
“Today was a day we really needed to get a win and I didn’t do my job,’’ Paxton said. “So I need to get back to work here and find a way to get back to the top of my game and help this team out.’’
The Yankees also need a new Altuve Plan.
“He was seeing it tonight,’’ Paxton said. “I need to be better with my location.’’
Indeed. Paxton threw a center-cut 95 mph fastball to Altuve in the first inning and he homered off the first-row railing of the Crawford Boxes in left.
In the fifth, Paxton fired nearly the same pitch, this time a first-pitch 94 mph fastball, and Altuve hit it off the base of the light tower in left. It would have dented the train.
That marked the fourth home run of the series for Altuve.
Paxton struggled early and late with his pitch count and putting batters away. His final line was four innings, eight hits, five runs, three walks, five strikeouts and those two home runs. He could have given up more runs, but the Astros were leaving men in scoring position until a four-run explosion in the fifth, enabled by a terrible relief performance by Tommy Kahnle.
Free-agent lefty Patrick Corbin was deemed too expensive by the Yankees, and he signed a six-year, $140 million deal with the Nationals. Paxton must come up big for Brian Cashman & Co. They chose him in a trade instead of a cash deal for Corbin.
Before the game, Yankees scouts were curious and a bit nervous to see how Paxton would do in such a setting, a pinstripe test.
Now they are a bit more nervous.
After three starts, Paxton’s ERA sits at 6.00. This team already has major issues in the starting-pitching department because Luis Severino is sidelined for months with shoulder and lat issues.
Their depth is being tested and the season is only 12 games old. The Yankees are 5-7 and figure to feast on the dreadful White Sox this weekend in The Bronx. The Astros did all this damage Wednesday with Alex Bregman out with a slight hamstring injury.
In three starts Paxton, 30, has yet to go beyond 5 ²/₃ innings. Durability is one of the big question marks for Paxton. He has never pitched more than 160 ¹/₃ innings in a season.
Three starts surely don’t make a season, but the Astros hitter were extremely confident against Paxton. He had some success with his knuckle curve, but his command was way off.
That was evident in a 28-pitch first inning, after Paxton was given a 1-0 lead by Brett Gardner’s leadoff home run. That inning included Altuve’s home run, a walk and a triple by Yuli Gurriel to set the tone.
It’s only three starts, but James Paxton really needs to get to work.
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