Paxton Implodes as Yankees Drop Fifth in last Seven

 RAYS 4 - YANKEES 3 

As great a start to the 2020 season the Yankees had, there has to be concern now as the Bronx Bombers still can't get good quality starts from people not named Gerrit Cole. 

Today's example: James Paxton. 

And to think at around 3:00 Sunday, the storyline was going to be much different. Through six innings Paxton had silenced the critics, allowing one a single hit while striking out 11 Tampa hitters as the Yankees held a 3-0 lead. 

After struggling so much his first two starts against Washington and Boston, Paxton gave the Yankees the kind of start they were hoping from the tall lefty. 

Then things fell apart in the seventh. A double by Jose Martinez got the ball rolling for the Rays, and it was all downhill for Paxton from there. With an runner on second and one out, Michael Brosseau took the third fasteball he saw in sequence from Paxton and deposited it over the left field wall for a two-run homer to cut the Yanks lead to 3-2. 

That wasn't all though, Brandon Lowe followed that up with a homer to right tying the game at three, and chasing Paxton from the game. After such a beautiful start, it was a nightmarish finish for the lefty, one that even Aaron Boone couldn't have imagined. 

The Yankees bats fell completely silent after that, going down in order in the eighth and ninth innings against Ryan Thompson and John Curtiss respectfully. 

That set the stage for a Tampa Bay rally in the bottom of the ninth as Brosseau led-off with a double and moved to third on a ground out by Lowe.  After Zach Britton walked Manuel Margot, little known Michael Perez slapped a single to right, scoring Brosseau with the winning run. 

The Yankees drop to 10-6 on the season, holding a slender two game lead on the Orioles (7-7) and Rays (8-8). The Orioles had a 5-2 lead on Washington before play was suspended due to heavy rain. If they were to hold on and beat the Nats, the Orioles would only be a game and a half out of first place. The Bombers have dropped five of their last seven, with a team ERA that is well over five in that span. 

The Yankees have a major problem. They must get more out of the likes of Paxton, Jordan Montgomery and JA Happ if they are going to make serious noise later this year. This team has enough to make the playoffs. They have enough offense to slug their way to a title. They just need better starting pitching.