Boone regrets slow hook of Severino
NEW YORK >> Aaron Boone regrets his slow hook of Luis Severino.
Given a night to reflect on New York’s record-setting 16-1 loss to Boston in Game 3 of the AL Division Series, the Yankees’ rookie manager said he would not have let his ace take the mound for the fourth inning down 3-0 after allowing five singles and several hard-hit outs.
“Certainly in hindsight, when he doesn’t get an out, I’d like to have that back,” Boone said before Game 4 on Tuesday. “Being able to look back in hindsight, sure, go in a different way there in that spot.”
Severino lasted just six pitches in the fourth, allowing a pair of singles and a four-pitch walk to the bottom three hitters in the Red Sox batting order.
Lance Lynn, usually a starter, came in and started with a four-pitch walk to Mookie Betts that forced in a run. Lynn also gave up Andrew Benintendi’s three-run double that put Boston ahead 7-0. Later in the inning, Chad Green allowed Steve Pearce’s RBI single and Brock Holt’s two-run triple that boosted the margin to 10.
Boston went on to take a 2-1 lead in the best-offive series, and Boone was criticized for his decisions on sports-talk radio and in other media.
“I don’t see it. I know it’s out there because of the texts I receive, the ‘hang in theres,’” Boone said. “We can all sit and second — not even second guess, first guess or second guess — I would do this, and that’s one of the great things about our game.”
Following his retirement as a player, Boone was an ESPN analyst from 2010-17. Asked whether Boone the broadcaster would have criticized Boone the manager, he smiled and said: “No, absolutely not.”
Boone investigated a report by TBS that Severino had insufficient time to warm up before the game. The network said Severino began his warmups 10 minutes before the first pitch; Boone said he spoke at length with the 24-yearold right-hander and with pitching coach Larry Rothschild.