Paxton sets Canadian post-season strikeout records in Yankees' win
North Delta Blue Jays alum James Paxton (Ladner, BC) struck out nine batters in six innings to earn his first postseason win in the New York Yankees’ 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday. Photo: USA Today Sports
October 19, 2019
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
North Delta Blue Jays alum James Paxton broke three Canadian post-season strikeout records in the New York Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday.
With the win, the Yankees staved off elimination and now trail the best-of-seven series 3-2.
According to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, Paxton’s nine strikeouts are the most ever by a Canadian in a post-season game. The ball hall also reported that the Canuck lefty has also established Canadian records for most strikeouts in a single post-season (16) and now holds the mark for most career post-season strikeouts by a Canadian (20).
In all, in what was easily Paxton’s best post-season start, he worked six innings and allowed just four hits and one run and outdueled Houston Astros’ ace Justin Verlander in a win-or-go-home contest at Yankee Stadium.
“I wasn’t ready to go home yet,” Paxton told reporters in a press conference after the game.
The Yankees scored all four of their runs off Verlander in the first inning when DJ LeMahieu homered to lead off the game and Aaron Hicks followed later with a three-run shot.
The series now shifts to Minute Maid Park in Houston for Game 6.
Clapp to be interviewed for Pirates’ managerial position
Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported on Friday that Canadian Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) will be interviewed for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ managerial job.
Clapp, who served as the first base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals this season, has a track record of winning. The 46-year-old Windsor, Ont., native was a key contributor to the Junior National Team that won gold at the World Youth Baseball Championships in Brandon, Man., in 1991. He was a coach on both of Canada’s Senior National Teams that captured gold at the Pan Am Games (2011, 2015) and he managed the Memphis Redbirds to back-to-back Pacific Coast League championships prior to joining the Cards this season.