James Paxton nearly got out of the fifth inning having allowed just two runs and delivering just about everything the Yankees could have asked for in Game 1 of the ALDS.
But the lefty gave up an RBI single to Jorge Polanco after a nine-pitch at-bat that tied the game and ended Paxton’s outing in a 10-4 win over the Twins on Friday night.
Ultimately, Paxton gave up three runs in 4 ²/u2083 innings in his postseason debut, fighting command issues throughout.
“That was a really good at-bat,’’ Paxton said of Polanco’s turn in the fifth.