James Paxton struck out Jurickson Profar swinging to lead off the game. And why not? Just get that strikeout out of the way quickly.
That was Paxton’s 200th strikeout of the season and his first of nine in the final start of the season for the Seattle Mariners’ left-handed ace. He exited after allowing one run in six innings against the Texas Rangers to get his season total to 160 1/3 innings pitched – another goal of his.
It’s a really good season for Paxton, certainly filled with big strikeout games (remember when he fanned 16 against the Angels?