After wild dud, Sevy has to be Yankee savior
The Yankees’ season is still on the brink, and it’s up to Luis Severino to keep it going in Game 4 on Monday. The 23-year-old ace hasn’t pitched since Tuesday’s AL wild-card game, when he imploded in the first inning and recorded just one out. “It means a lot,” Severino said of getting the opportunity to redeem himself. “I think the last start I had wasn’t my best one, so I’ll have a chance to go out there and do my job and give the team a chance to win.”
Severino went 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in the regular season – displaying an electric fastball that can reach 100 mph along with a much-improved changeup to go with his nasty slider.
Asked what he learned facing the Twins, Severino responded: “It doesn’t help having a lot of adrenaline and trying to do too much. So (Monday) I just need to try to calm myself down and try to breathe and think before every pitch.”
Asked what the last week has been like, Severino responded: “I’ve looked at videos, see what happened and that was about learning not to be too perfect, just locating my pitches and trying to be more careful with the hitters.”
Severino will be opposed by Trevor Bauer, who allowed just two hits over 6.2 shutout innings in Cleveland’s 4-0 victory over the Bombers in Game 1.
GARY GOOD
Gary Sanchez, who had 16 passed balls and 13 errors during the regular season, and was frequently criticized about his defense as a result, did a tremendous job blocking pitches in the dirt from Masahiro Tanaka on Sunday.
His best work came in the fourth inning with one out and Jason Kipnis on third base, when he blocked several pitches from Tanaka, who eventually struck out Jose Ramirez and Jay Bruce to end the threat.
“Really, really good,” said Joe Girardi, who has been critical of Sanchez. “He did an outstanding job. As I’ve said, this is our catcher. And there’s a lot of times that he’s really, really good. And there’s going to be times where he has a bad day like everyone else, like any other catcher. But he was really, really good.”
ON THE OLD PLACE
Before the game, Terry Francona was asked how he compares new Yankee Stadium to the old place.
“I was a big fan of the old one,” Francona said. “It was just so much personality. You swallow a little asbestos, that’s not the end of the world, is it? You stand out there for the anthem, and by the time the anthem was over, people were just berating you.
“Now you look sometimes in the lower bowel and people aren’t really there. Now, it’s a gorgeous stadium and the clubhouses are wonderful. I just thought the other place had an unbelievable amount of personality.”
Edwin Encarnacion (ankle) was not in the lineup for Game 3. Michael Brantley served as the DH, with Yankee killer Jay Bruce moving up to the cleanup spot.