Ready for kickoff
GIANTS OPEN PRESEASON
CHICAGO — Luis Severino has been working on his slider with Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild. It’s beginning to pay off, too. Severino pitched seven effective innings in his first win in a month, Giancarlo Stanton hit his first grand slam in four years and the Yankees swept the White Sox with a 7-3 victory on Wednesday night.
Aaron Hicks also homered as the wild card-leading Yankees closed out a 3-4 trip with their third consecutive victory. While Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez remained sidelined by injuries, the Yankees posted their first road series sweep of at least three games since a weekend set against the Angels from April 27-29.
“It’s not easy for us right now,” Aaron Boone said. “For us to come in here and grind out these wins I think is huge.”
The Yankees bounced back nicely after they were swept by the big league-best Red Sox, an ugly fourgame set that included Severino’s third straight loss. The ace right-hander was a little better this time around, striking out eight while moving into a tie for the majorleague lead with his careerbest 15th victory.
Severino (15-5) retired 11 in a row after the White Sox used three straight hits to open a 2-0 lead in the first. After Tim Anderson led off the fifth with his 15th homer, Severino fanned the next two batters, and Austin Romine threw out Yoan Moncada trying to steal second.
“A lot of good sliders. The changeup was a factor again tonight,” Boone said. “So hopefully another step forward for him.”
Severino said he felt better about his slider after working with Rothschild on the shape of the pitch.
“I was in control. I wasn’t missing like a couple outings ago,” he said. “I was on top of the ball.”
White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (7-9) was tagged for seven runs and six hits in five innings in his first loss in a month. He was 2-0 with a 3.42 ERA in his previous four starts.
Giolito unraveled for a while in the second, beginning with Gleyber Torres’ leadoff walk on four pitches. After Miguel Andujar struck out, the next five batters reached safely.
“I lost all my rhythm, I lost all my tempo,” Giolito said. “Four-pitch walk on uncompetitive pitches to open the inning. Kind of just spiraled from there.”
Romine and Shane Robinson had consecutive RBI singles, tying it at 2. Brett Gardner was hit by a pitch before Stanton went the other way for his 27th homer, connecting for a high-arcing drive that landed just inside the foul pole in right.
It was Stanton’s first slam since April 18, 2014, for Miami against Seattle and No. 6 for his career. He also homered in the Yankees’ 4-3 victory Tuesday night.
“Good to get a sweep here,” he said. “Let Boston be in the past, and look ahead to what we need to do.”