James Paxton 12 K's on Easter vs The Royals, a breakdown

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton delivers a dominant performance, striking out 12 Kansas City Royals batters on Easter Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Facing the Royals' lineup, Paxton showcases his impressive repertoire, using a combination of overpowering fastballs and sharp, biting sliders to overwhelm the opposing hitters. In the bottom of the first inning, Paxton quickly sets the tone, striking out Royals outfielder Alex Gordon swinging on a nasty slider. Next, he fans designated hitter Lucas Duda with another well-placed slider, sending the Royals batter back to the dugout. Catcher Martin Maldonado is the next victim, as Paxton blows a fastball past him for the third strikeout of the inning. The onslaught continues in the second, as Paxton punches out speedster Billy Hamilton with an elevated fastball. Outfielder Terrance Gore is no match for Paxton's filthy slider and the Yankees starter records his fifth strikeout of the game. Royals first baseman Hunter Dozier becomes Paxton's sixth victim, chasing a high fastball out of the strike zone. As the game progresses, Paxton's dominance only intensifies. In the fourth inning, he strikes out Maldonado again, this time freezing him with a perfectly located curveball. Paxton then fans outfielder Whit Merrifield and utility man Chris Owings in succession, bringing his strikeout total to 9. The right-hander continues to overpower the Royals lineup in the later innings. He punches out Maldonado for a third time, eliciting a frustrated reaction from the veteran catcher. Paxton then sets down Gordon and Duda again, recording his 11th and 12th strikeouts of the game. "He's got great stuff today," remarks the television announcer, marveling at Paxton's dominant performance. With the Yankees leading 3-1 late in the game, Paxton's dominant outing provides a much-needed boost for the home team. "It's a great day to be a Yankee," Paxton says after the game, reflecting on his career-high strikeout total and the team's victory. The win moves the Yankees to 10-8 on the season, as they look to build momentum heading into the heart of the schedule.