ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If there’s one thing J.A. Happ, Masahiro Tanaka and Tuesday’s starter, Luis Severino, have in common, it’s that none of them has looked like No. 1 starters on a consistent basis as the regular season comes to a close.
There was nothing Severino did in a 9-2 win over the Rays that likely convinced anyone in the Yankees organization that he should start next Wednesday’s wild-card game, but the right-hander at least took another step in distancing himself from his horrific 11-start stretch that lasted nearly two months.
Severino got roughed up in the third inning at Tropicana Field with two doubles, a walk and a hit by pitch, and the damage would have been worse had Tampa Bay third base coach Matt Quatraro not waved home Ji-Man Choi on Brandon Lowe’s two-run double to right with no one out.
Choi was thrown out at the plate and Severino bounced back to get out of the inning without allowing another run.
Severino and Aaron Boone blamed the rough inning on the fact the right-hander was in the dugout for a while during the top of the frame, when the Yankees blew open the game with a seven-run third.
“I think that was the problem,’’ Severino said. “In those situations, I usually play catch a little bit inside. Today I didn’t do it for some reason.”
Boone said the layoff caused Severino to lose his “edge.”
“What I like is he regrouped,’’ Boone said of Severino, who retired eight in a row until Lowe led off the bottom of the sixth with another double to end the pitcher’s night. He was spared from allowing another run when Tommy Kahnle retired the next three batters to strand Lowe at third.
Severino gave up four hits and two runs in his five-plus innings, but he also walked three — while striking out seven — and his pitch count escalated.
Despite not retiring a batter in the sixth, Severino threw 97 pitches, but he was mostly effective for a third consecutive start.
Over those outings, Severino has given up four runs and no homers over 17 ²/₃ innings for a 2.04 ERA. While that’s significantly better than his 11-game stretch when he allowed 13 homers and had a 6.83 ERA over 55 ¹/₃ innings, it’s not dominant.
“There’s no question he’s feeling much more comfortable,’’ Boone said. “I think he’s getting a bit of that swagger back and pitching with more confidence.”
A lack of fastball command was an issue, but he was good enough to earn another win in one of his final outings of the regular season.
“I have to finish strong,’’ said Severino, who became the first pitcher in franchise history to have multiple 220-strikeouts seasons. “I’ve had some struggles, but I know I can be good if I command my stuff.’’
