Yankees stick it to Astros again with another message-sending win | Rapid reaction

Luis Severino and Gary Sanchez come up big in a 5-3 Yankees win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

NEW YORK — Until they meet again …

The Yankees delivered another subtle message to the world champs this week at Yankee Stadium that last year is last year.

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The Yanks won a series in Houston in late April/early May and now they’ve taken another from the Astros on their turf by virtue of Wednesday night’s 5-3 win.

Ace Luis Severino (8-1) dialed up another masterpiece and batterymate Gary Sanchez snapped a long hitless spell with a game-turning hit off Dallas Keuchel (3-7) in this Yankees’ victory that made it five wins in seven games in a season series that is over before June.

“I certainly think we have their respect and we know we’re a really good team, but we also recognize it is only May,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s great to go up against the best and have some success – no question about it – but I would say it’s a long season and both sides have a lot of confidence that we have a chance to have special seasons.”

Of course, just like last year, these two American League powers very well could see each other again in postseason play.

The Astros took out the Yankees in the ALCS last year in a seven-game series in which the home team won every time, then they went on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win their first World Series.

This week, the Yanks lost the series opener, then won two in a row.

After pulling out a dramatic 6-5, 10-inning win on Tuesday night, the Yanks received a tremendous outing from Severino, who allowed just four hits in a two-run, seven-inning outing in which he matched his career high with 11 strikeouts and walked just one.

The Yankees fell behind 2-1 in the fifth when Max Stassi homered with one aboard off Severino, but they came right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead for good.

The tying and go-ahead runs scored on Sanchez’ first hit in 20 at-bats, a two-out, bases-loaded, ground single through a hole between first and second, 

The Yanks added breathing run in the sixth when Didi Gregorius singled in a run and Aaron Hicks drove one in with a bloop double.

Severino retired the first 11 Astros, seven on strikeouts, before Jose Altuve grounded a single to right with two outs in the fourth.

This was the second gem in a row by Severino against the Astros, as he pitched a five-hit, complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win in Houston May 2.

“He’s a young man and I think with every start he just gains more and more experience, more and more confidence,” Boone said. “I talked a lot about him wanting to be great, and that’s his expectation

“I don’t think he’s at all surprised by his success. He’s driven to go out there. He wants to be a guy that we lean on for innings. He want to be a guy who takes the ball when it’s difficult and his teammates can count on for a great performance every time he goes out there.

“Those are his expectations. And I think he’s now at a point where he’s starting to relish these opportunities when you go up against the other elite clubs.”

NOTABLE

— Tyler Austin’s first action in five games was a start at first base for Greg Bird and he was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. He’s now hitless in 18 at-bats since homering in consecutive innings during the Yanks’ 10-1 win in Kansas City on May 20.

— Backup catcher Austin Romine was in the lineup and extended his career-long hitting streak to nine games with a line single in the fifth inning. He was 1 for 2 with a walk and increased his team-best average to .358.

— Rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar was OK after suffering a blow to the side of his head when he was barreled into by Astros baserunner Yuri Gurriel while trying to field a seventh-inning chopper between third and short. Gurriel was called out for interference.

LOOKING AHEAD

Thursday: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m., YES. RHP Sonny Gray (3-4, 5.98) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (2-6, 5.07).

Friday: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m., YES. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (6-2, 4.62) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (3-4, 4.31).

Saturday: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, 4:05 p.m., YES. RHP Domingo German (0-3, 5.45) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (1-7, 6.80).

Sunday: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, 1:05 p.m., YES. LHP CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.73) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (3-7, 4.46).

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.