What differences did Red Sox see in Yankees' Luis Severino?

by Felix Pantaleon

On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 (5/8/18) at Yankee Stadium, the Boston Red Sox saw the version of Yankees pitcher Luis Severino who has been tearing through opposing lineups this season. Severino struck out 11 Red Sox batters in six innings of work.

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NEW YORK — The Boston Red Sox were the one team that got to Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino this season.

But on Tuesday, Severino made Boston look like every other opponent.

Despite taking a no decision in the Yankees’ 3-2 win at Yankee Stadium, Severino struck out 11 Red Sox and walked none while allowing two earned runs on six hits over six-plus innings.

Severino entered Tuesday at 5-1 with a 2.11 ERA. The Red Sox were responsible for his one loss when they pinned five earned runs on Severino over five innings in a 14-1 shellacking on April 10 at Fenway Park in Boston.

In the second meeting, the Red Sox ran into the pitcher who allowed six total earned runs across his other six previous starts.

“Better breaking ball,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We put good at-bats. But he got creative throughout the game. All of a sudden, he lost his slider, he lost his fastball command. He throws a 3-0 changeup to Hanley (Ramirez), a 3-1 changeup to Hanley, then a fastball and he hits it back to the middle.”

On top of his April 10 outing, Severino entered Tuesday with a poor career track record against the Red Sox. In eight starts and nine total appearances against Boston prior to Tuesday, Severino was 2-5 with a 4.92 ERA.

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Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts nearly took Severino deep in the first at bat of the game, flying out to the warning track in front of the Yankees bullpen in right-center field. After that, not many bats made clean contact.

“He did a good job mixing up his pitches, keeping them out of the middle of the zone,” Betts said. “Obviously he has 100 (mph) in his back pocket, too. So he’s uses it all to his advantage.

“Not a whole lot you can do when he’s on his game.”