Severino struggles vs Mariners, Yankees lose 3rd straight
NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino created quite a stir for the New York Yankees after making his major league debut last August, pitching so well that some people wanted him to start the AL wild-card game.
He's looked a little different early this season.
Severino struggled once again and the Yankees lost their third in row, 7-1 Friday night to Robinson Cano and the Seattle Mariners.
"I think I have to hit the glove more and take my breaking pitches to the ground. That's it," Severino said.
So far, he's been hitting too many bats.
Severino (0-2) gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old righty was tagged for a career-worst 10 hits by Detroit last week.
Severino was the youngest pitcher to start in the majors last year at 21 and went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA.
"I think it's too quick to say that's growing pains. It's two starts. It's not like he's been pounded, so I think it's way too quick to overanalyze everything," manager Joe Girardi said.
The slumping Cano got two more hits to celebrate his special connection to Jackie Robinson Day.
Cano's father, a former major league pitcher, named his son for the Brooklyn Dodgers great. Cano improved to 14 for 38 (.368) on April 15, the day all major leaguers honor the late Hall of Famer by wearing his No. 42. Cano also once hit a three-run homer for the Yankees when they paid tribute a day later.
Cano was 1 for 19 when he hit an early RBI single. He began the season on a home run binge, but had cooled off.
Chris Iannetta homered, singled twice and drove in three runs. The Mariners opened a nine-game trip by boosting their road record to 3-1. They are 1-5 at Safeco Field.
Nathan Karns (1-1) and the Mariners' bullpen kept wriggling out of jams.
Former Yankees pitcher Vidal Nuno retired Mark Teixeira on a grounder with the bases loaded to end the sixth, protecting a 4-1 lead.
Franklin Gutierrez had a sacrifice fly as a pinch hitter against ex-Mariners pitcher Tyler Olson and added an RBI double.
Brett Gardner homered in the New York first. That was all the Yankees managed to score as they began a nine-game homestand.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Alex Rodriguez didn't play, a day after his rut reached 0 for 14 in Toronto. The 40-year-old DH is hitting just .120 (3 for 25) with one home run and two RBIs following his 33-homer performance last year. Girardi called it a regular day off and didn't express any anxiety over A-Rod's slow start.
"I've said, when you're 40, people are going to always question, is it his age?" Girardi said.
Girardi did acknowledge that slumps in April can appear "more glaring."
"When it's early in the season and you're 40 and you're Alex, you're going to be asked about every day," he said.
ROSTER MOVE
The Yankees recalled Olson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and optioned RHP Luis Cessa. Olson, who was on the Mariners' opening day roster last year, went 2 2/3 innings and gave up three hits and two runs.
NOT SO FAST
Teixeira thought he'd stopped his swing on a down-and-in, 3-0 pitch in the first inning, so he shucked his shin guard and bat and headed toward first base. Then he found out it was a strike on a check-swing appeal. Teixeira readjusted and walked on the next pitch.
UP NEXT
Mariners: Felix Hernandez (0-1, 0.69 ERA) makes his third start of the season, looking for his first win and some run support. He is 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA in eight starts at the new Yankee Stadium. Teixeira has hit six home runs off him, the most by any batter vs. King Felix.
Yankees: CC Sabathia makes his second start after winning with six innings at Detroit in his season debut. He'll become the 10th pitcher to make 200 career starts with multiple teams, having also done it with Cleveland.