In a crucial Game 3 of a tied series with the Astros, the Yankees sent Luis Severino to the mound to start the first of three games at Yankee Stadium. Despite throwing a scoreless set of innings in his last time out, he was unable to match that performance Tuesday afternoon.
Severino exited Game 3 Tuesday earlier than he or Aaron Boone would've liked, heading back to the dugout after 4.1 innings that saw him allow five hits on 97 pitches, with six strikeouts and three walks. Severino allowed two home runs in the first two innings, including one to Jose Altuve on just the third pitch of the game.
When asked after the game how hard it was to get back on track after the rough start, Severino said it was "tough."
"I let a pitch go right down the middle and this is a team that you can't allow mistakes...that was a bad inning but everything will come together," said the Yankees starter.
The Yankees ultimately lost the game 4-1, giving the Astros a 2-1 lead and leaving Severino with the losing decision on the night.
After the Altuve home run, Severino loaded the bases up with two outs but was bailed out by a Carlos Correa flyout to center to escape the top of the first inning with just one run scored.
The Astro's came back in the second inning and again took a Severino pitch out into the stands, with Josh Reddick hitting a leadoff home run out to right field to stretch the lead to 2-0.
"Two bad pitches, two bad sliders right down the middle," Severino said.
Severino seemed to calm down after the home run from Reddick, striking out five batters over the next two innings to keep the Yankees in the game despite the offense struggling to capitalize on having numerous runners on base and in scoring position.
"I actually thought he settled in as the night went on, I thought he got stronger," Boone said after the game. "...Overall, I thought he competed really well, obviously got himself into some trouble there--a couple of solo homers--but overall I thought he was pretty good."
Chad Green entered the game in the fourth inning with one out and two runners left on base by Severino, but Green was able to close out the inning and keep Severino's ERA down as a result.
The 97-pitch performance was the first time Severino had pitched over 90 pitches this season, and his highest total since September of 2018. However, 36 of those pitches came in just the first innings alone, highlighting the shaky start for the right-hander.