New York Yankees designated hitter Gary Sanchez flies out to left field during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, May 13, 2016, in New York.
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Severino gave up a career-high seven runs in 2 ²/₃ innings, bringing whatever momentum gained by taking three of four from the Royals to a screeching halt. It’s been a rocky road for Severino in 2016, as he’s 0-5 over six starts with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP across 32.1 innings. Once the results of the MRI are made public, a timetable for his return to the mound should become clear, but his chances of making his next scheduled start are questionable at best.
Sale (8-0), the first White Sox pitcher to win his opening eight starts since Jon Garland in 2005, retired 15 consecutive batters from the fourth through the eighth innings. A four-pitch walk to Austin Jackson and an infield hit by Eaton loaded the bases for Rollins, whom Severino struck out. Minnesota has lost five straight games and nine of 10. For the Yankees, the true nightmare was Severino walking off the mound in the third inning with trainer Steve Donohue by his side.
The Yankees had noted encouraging signs of improvement in recent starts, but Severino now has a 7.46 ERA with six losses in seven starts.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are 1-4 in Severino’s last five home starts, and 0-7 in Severino’s last seven starts overall.
That’s come as something of a shock considering he spent all of previous year as one of the most highly touted pitching prospects in baseball and made a terrific first impression with a 2.89 ERA through 11 big-league starts last season. With two doubles, two singles and two walks, the White Sox batted around and scored three runs in the second.
NY started just one left-handed hitter to combat the lefty Sale, Brett Gardner. As a Cardinal, Lackey was mad at former Cub Starlin Castro two years ago because he yelled at himself in Spanish after popping up.
Headley provided the Yankees’ first run in the second with his second homer in as many games after going 28 games without an extra-base hit.
The Yankees were playing without a true long reliever, and their bullpen was saved by a terrific outing by Nick Goody, a rookie reliever who delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the team with the third-most runs in the American League.
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Yankees: OF Jacoby Ellsbury, who hasn’t played since straining a right hip muscle on May 6, is likely to be back in the lineup before the homestand ends Sunday, according to Girardi. Severino’s 1.60 (7/39.1) RSA since that date is the lowest in the majors (minimum 5 starts).
