Yankees pounded by Nationals, James Paxton gives reason to worry | Rapid reaction

WASHINGTON — The loss likely won’t be a trend. Too powerful, and too deep with talent around the field, a lot would have to go wrong for the Yankees not to contend for the World Series.

But what about what happened moments before their 9-2 loss to the Nationals on Saturday night?

Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and center fielder Aaron Hicks became the first Yankees to kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice in America and in support of Black Lives Matter.

With other stars around the sport — including the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts and Giants manager Gabe Kapler — kneeling for the anthem, will Stanton and Hicks continue? Or was the move, which President Donald Trump has repeatedly condemned, a one-time thing?

As Stanton and Hicks knelt, just eight other Yankees were even on the field. Among those standing were manager Aaron Boone, second baseman DJ LeMahieu and center fielder Brett Gardner. Aaron Judge, who led off a video MLB stars made in support of Black Lives Matter in the wake of the George Floyd killing, wasn’t on the field for the anthem.

If it continues, will Trump throw out the first pitch at a Yankees game in the Bronx, like he said he plans?

While the actions of Stanton and Hicks will certainly stick in the memories of Yankees fans, they’ll want to forget about what happened after first pitch.

Starting pitcher James Paxton looked anything but comfortable and was torched. His substitute, rookie Mike King, didn’t fair much better. The Yankees were barely able to get anything going against Erick Fedde, the Nationals’ emergency replacement. A few hours before game time, Washington scratched co-ace Stephen Strasburg from his planned start with a nerve issue in his right throwing hand.

While Giancarlo Stanton crushed a 483-foot solo home run in the third inning, they missed a bases-loaded opportunity later in the frame when LeMahieu grounded out. Stanton also doubled in the eighth.

The Yankees fell to 1-1. They had beaten the Nationals, 4-1, in a rain-shortened Opening Day game Thursday.

They couldn’t make the Nationals pay for committing four errors before the first out in the third inning.

Paxton was awful, lasting just one inning. He gave up three runs on five hits and a walk, striking out just one. His fastball, which averaged 96 mph last year, only touched 93.8 mph, according to MLB’s Statcast. He seemed to have difficulty finishing his delivery, which wasn’t a shock, considering he talked about having trouble with it earlier in the week.

The Yankees have to wonder whether he’s recovered from lower-back surgery. On Feb. 5, Paxton had a microscopic lumbar discectomy with removal of a peridiscal cyst. The procedure forced him to miss all of spring training, but he’s said he feels healthy.

Manager Aaron Boone must have been encouraged, however, by the return of LeMahieu. The second baseman didn’t play Opening Day, Boone choosing to be careful with the 31-year-old after he missed nearly all of the rebooted spring training workouts due to a positive coronavirus test. He came out before the bottom of the sixth.

LeMahieu’s RBI single in the third cut the Yankees’ deficit to 3-1. Paxton had coughed up runs on Victor Robles’ two-run double and Trea Turner’s RBI groundout in the second.

King, Ben Heller and Luis Avilan each surrendered homers for the Yankees, who finish their series with the Nationals on Sunday before heading to Philadelphia on Monday.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.