Ace erases ’17 playoff nightmare
Luis Severino’s wild-card nightmare is a thing of the past.
The Yankees’ ace, who was knocked out of last year’s wild-card game against the Twins after he allowed three runs in just a third of an inning, pitched four-plus scoreless innings Wednesday in a 7-2 victory over the A’s.
The Yankees advanced to the ALDS, where they will face the Red Sox — and presumably start J.A. Happ twice against their rivals, given the lefty’s success in Boston.
After being tabbed to start by Aaron Boone to start over Happ and Masahiro Tanaka — or an opener — Severino put to rest any questions about his postseason readiness.
He began to do that last year, when he pitched well against Cleveland in the ALDS and was OK versus the Astros in the ALCS, but in a do-or-die outing, Severino gave the Yankees about as much as they were looking for.
The right-hander, who allowed a leadoff homer to Brian Dozier a year ago, opened Wednesday’s game by striking out Nick Martini on three pitches and retired the side in order.
“After what happened last year, that first inning was huge,’’ said Severino, who threw almost nothing but fastballs in the opening frame. “I was hitting my spots. All I was thinking about was hitting the glove. I didn’t do anything different [than last year]. I was calm and confident. The experience we had last year I think helped.”
Pitching with a two-run lead in the second, Severino went to a full count on four straight hitters.
He pitched around a walk to Matt Olson by striking out Stephen Piscotty looking and Ramon Laureano swinging to end the 27-pitch inning.
Severino had to work even harder in the fourth.
After Khris Davis reached on Miguel Andujar’s error, Severino walked Matt Olson and, one out later, loaded the bases when he walked Ramon Laureano, one of four free passes Severino issued.
With Marcus Semien up, Sanchez blocked an 0-2 pitch in the dirt to Semien to keep Davis at third to preserve the two-run lead.
Severino then struck out Semien on a 100 mph fastball, unleashing a scream before he walked off the mound to another ovation from the raucous Yankee Stadium crowd.
“Any hit would have been two or three runs,’’ Severino said.
“When he got named starter, I knew he was gonna go out there and do his job and be the dominant [Severino] he usually is, and that’s what he did,’’ Aaron Judge said.
Boone opted to keep Severino, who had yet to allow a hit, in the game to start the fifth, despite the stress of the game and the fact he had thrown 81 pitches.
Severino then allowed his only two hits of the night, but was bailed out by Dellin Betances.
“If [Severino’s] pitching well,” Boone said before the game, “he’s probably the best pitcher on the field tonight.”
That may not have turned out to be the case, but he was good enough for the Yankees to keep their season alive.