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This was the James Paxton outing Yankees desperately needed

Aaron Boone talked in the late-night misery after Game 4 about wanting to get on a plane back to Texas. CC Sabathia, a sling holding his damaged left arm in place, mentioned before Game 5 he would go for an MRI exam “after we get back from Houston.”

The words were right, of course. And the words come first. But they are rote. All teams in crisis know the script about not surrendering, about believing in themselves that they can come all the way back.

But deeds are needed and the top of the first Friday night played like Scene 1 of a sequel to the Yankees’ horror show Thursday night in Game 4.