Chapman gets save as Yanks one-hit Rangers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS » Aroldis Chapman entered in the ninth inning of a save situation for the first time since he was removed as the Yankees’ closer last month.

The hard-throwing lefthander made it look as easy as 1-2-3.

Chapman struck out two in a perfect ninth to finish a one-hitter in the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Tyler Austin hit a goahead single in the ninth inning for the wild card-leading Yankees.

“I feel good about him out there,” manager Joe Girardi said. “This is a guy that’s been too good for too long, for me, to lose it. It’s good to get him back out there. He threw well.”

Before the game, Girardi said he would prefer to settle on a closer over the committee approach he has employed since demoting Chapman after he gave up two runs in a non-save situation in a 9-6 loss at Boston on Aug. 18.

Chapman had his fifth scoreless outing in six appearances since, capping it with a swinging strikeout of pinch- hitter Mike Napoli on a 102 mph fastball for his team-leading 17th save in 21 chances.

“Really nice,” said starter Luis Severino, who struck out 10 in seven innings in his first no-decision since July 15 at Boston. “I know he can throw a strike. I know he can get that role, that save.”

The only hit off Severino was Brett Nicholas’ run-scoring double with two outs in the fifth. Will Middlebrooks, the lone runner past second against Severino, scored from first.

David Robertson (7-2) pitched a perfect eighth.

Chase Headley drove in two runs without a hit — a tying sacrifice fly in the eighth and a bases-loaded walk for a 3-1 lead in the ninth.