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Yankees<\/a> hurler James Paxton<\/a> is off to a red-hot start this season, one that might even be called historic. The southpaw pitched his way to a 2-2 record last week, firing eight scoreless innings of two-hit, 12-strikeout ball in an impressive 8-0 victory over the Red Sox<\/a>. On Sunday, he racked up another 12 strikeouts in a dominant showing against the Royals \u2014 not only reinforcing the Yankees\u2019 five-run lead, but matching a franchise record that has gone unchallenged since 1998.<\/p>\n After striking out three batters over the first two innings, Paxton hit his stride in the third. He expended 12 pitches to strike out the side, getting Mart\u00edn Maldonado<\/a> on a called strike and inducing swinging strikes from Billy Hamilton<\/a> and Whit Merrifield<\/a> to end the inning. In the fourth, he allowed a leadoff single and stolen base to Adalberto Mondesi<\/a>, then proceeded to strike out the side again. By the time he handed the ball over to Tommy Kahnle<\/a> in the seventh, the Royals had managed to get on base just four times and stranded both of the runners they had in scoring position.<\/p>\n According to MLB Stats<\/a>, Paxton\u2019s feat \u2014 12 strikeouts in consecutive outings \u2014 had not been recorded by a Yankees pitcher since David Cone decimated the Marlins and Indians during back-to-back performances in the summer of 1998. The 30-year-old lefty is also one of just three major-league pitchers to pitch consecutive starts with 12 strikeouts, one (or fewer) walk, and zero earned runs, and the first to do so since Clayton Kershaw<\/a> in 2015. And, while it certainly seems improbable, he might even be the first to complete the feat in three straight starts when he faces the Giants next weekend, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n