Sevy aces test
Allows 1 hit in Yank win
ARLINGTON, Texas — Another start, another standout performance for Luis Severino. The 23-year-old ace gave up just one hit while striking out 10 in seven innings during the Yankees’ 3-1 victory over the Rangers on Saturday afternoon at Globe Life Park.
Severino’s ERA since the All-Star break is 2.07. Overall, it’s 2.96.
“That’s why I wanted to work hard in the offseason,” Severino said. “I wanted to prove to the Yankees and the fans that I can be a starter.” He has. It’s hard to believe that Severino got demoted to the minors last season and then worked as a one-inning reliever when he returned to the big leagues.
With the help of Pedro Martinez, Severino has been able to refine his mechanics while gaining much stronger command of his fastball, slider and changeup.
He won a rotation spot out of spring training and has done everything and more since then.
“He was really good out there,” Joe Girardi said. “It looked like he had great command of his fastball, his slider was good. He threw some occasional changeups, but his command was really good.”
The only hit Severino gave up was a two-out RBI double to No. 9 batter Brett Nicholas in the fifth.
“Nah. Nah,” Severino replied when asked if he was thinking about a potential no-hitter. “Maybe if I got to the sixth.”
He especially enjoys pitcher’s duels. Texas starter Andrew Cashner went seven innings, allowing four hits and one run.
“It’s just about keep going, keep battling,” Severino said.
Severino got a no-decision, but the Yankees were able to rally from a 1-0 deficit after seven to secure the win.
IN ROTATION
Girardi has been rotating Matt Holliday, Chase Headley, Greg Bird and Todd Frazier at first base, third base and designated hitter.
Ideally, Girardi wants Holliday, Headley and Bird to play two out of every three games while trying to keep everyone fresh.
Girardi says he makes his lineup decisions based on right-handed and left-handed pitching matchups.
Holliday didn’t start on Saturday, but delivered a huge pinch-hit single in place of Bird that enabled the Yankees to tie the game in the eighth on Headley’s sacrifice fly.
OF NOTE
The Yankees signed 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Ronny Rojas for $1 million, according to multiple reports.
Rojas was ranked No. 11 on MLB.com’s top-100 international prospects list. … Girardi is hoping to get six innings out of Sunday’s starter, 24-year-old rookie Jordan Montgomery. … The Yankees didn’t record any extra-base hits on Saturday.