Lasts just one-third of inning, but bullpen, bats bail him out
The Yankees are going to need Luis Severino to last a bit longer in his next start in the AL Division Series after they advanced to face Cleveland despite a historically short and horrid outing in the first postseason start of their young ace’s career.
Severino emerged as a first-time All-Star throughout the 2016 regular season, but the 23-year-old righty recorded just one out before the Yanks overcame an early three-run hole — and received a near-complete game from their bullpen — for a season-extending 8-4 victory over the Twins on Tuesday in the AL wild-card game.
“It was difficult. My team needed me very bad and I didn’t do my job,” Severino said following the champagne celebration in the Yankees’ clubhouse. “I just didn’t command my pitches. In the bullpen, I was awesome…but when I took the mound I lost the feeling for my slider and was behind in the counts and I paid for it.
“I don’t want to be in that situation and lose that game like that. But we have a great bullpen and I know the guys were going to hit. And right now I (will) get the chance to pitch again.”
Severino, who threw only 29 pitches, could be in line for a quick turnaround, possibly as soon as Game 2 against Cleveland ace Corey Kluber, although Joe Girardi didn’t disclose his pitching plans for the Indians series afterward.
“He just wasn’t hitting any spots. And we haven’t seen that all year from him,” Girardi said of Severino. “I joked with him, I said ‘Well, you should be ready on Thursday (in Game 1) again,’ kind of joking with him. But you never know how someone’s going to handle it.”
Severino opened the game with a 100-mph fastball for a strike, but Twins leadoff batter Brian Dozier then clocked a 3-1 heater just over the wall in left to quiet the roll-calling home crowd.
Following a one-out walk, cleanup batter Eddie Rosario also jerked a two-run shot into the first row in right for a quick 3-0 Twins lead. Two more hits followed, including a double by Max Kepler for two runners in scoring position with one out.
Girardi quick-hooked Severino in favor of Chad Green, who struck out Byron Buxton and Jason Castro to keep the deficit where it was before Didi Gregorius tied it with a three-run blast in the bottom half against Twins starter Ervin Santana.
“I know this game we had to win it, so I wasn’t surprised to see Joe (coming out of the dugout) there,” Severino said.
Severino’s one-third of an inning tied two others for the franchise mark for shortest postseason start. Bob Turley lasted one-third of an inning in Game 2 of the 1958 World Series, while Art Ditmar also recorded just one out in Game 1 of the 1960 Fall Classic.
“I’m looking forward to go pitch, and it’s not going to be the same,” he said. “I will do as much as possible to be in the game and to win the game. I’ll be ready for the next game. That’s a decision that Joe and (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild) will have to make. But I’ll be ready. I don’t want to let this happen again. I know my team trusts me and Joe trusts me so I will go there and try to do my job.”