Yankees James Paxton throws gem; Aaron Hicks hits game-winning homer

Yankees James Paxton throws the game of his life following Aaron Hicks’ three-run homer in the first inning as the Yanks head back to Houston for Game 6 of the ALCS.

Yankees starter James Paxton threw a six-inning gem catching the Astros off-guard all night with nine strikeouts, dominating a team that seemed to find a way to hit the ball any way they could over the last three games. But, the Yanks would stave off elimination for another night.

Paxton pitched the game of his life, which would be the Astros ultimate undoing in Game 5. Following a leadoff homer by D.J. LeMahieu to start the bottom of the first inning, the Bomber offensive did all the damage they would need in that opening frame. LeMahieu’s shot was the first leadoff home run in the postseason in 10 years.

Aaron Judge followed with a hard single to left, and Gleyber Torres, batting in the third spot, where he belongs, followed with a double. Justin Verlander finally recorded his first out with a strikeout of Edwin Encarnacion, who continues to struggle at the plate during the ALCS.

Aaron Hicks stepped up though, slamming a three-run shot off the right-field foul pole that had Yankee Stadium rocking for the first time in this series. As Hicks rounded the bases, fans were deafening as Verlander crouched with his head down.

That would be all Paxton needed. A three-run cushion was only threatened a couple of times when the Astros loaded the bases — and had two on in Paxton’s final inning of work. But The big Maple worked out of both jams, mastering the ‘Stros for one night.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who has made some questionable decisions again this postseason, took a stroll out to the mound in the sixth, and you could hear the collective moans of The Stadium — as we all waited for him to call upon the bullpen too early.

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But, this time, Boone did the right thing, checking how Paxton felt — inevitably leaving him in to get the final out of the sixth and close out an incredible pitching performance that saved the Yankees World Series’ hopes for at least one more game in Houston.

That is the Yanks’ mindset right now — worry about today, and boy did they come out of the box swinging on Friday night. The Yankees showed the Astros they can dominate a lineup with excellent pitching — proving Verlander wouldn’t be the hero many expected.

Without a day to rest, both teams head to Texas, and the Yankees might just be witnessing the Astros flame out, following an exhausting five-game series against the Rays. Can these Yanks become only the 14th team in history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit?

The ALCS is now 3-2, and if anything can get it done, it’s this year’s “next man up” mentality!