Yankees torch trade target, but Aaron Hicks and Aroldis Chapman leave early

Yankees dump Blue Jays 8-5 despite getting so-so outing from ace Luis Severino, who picks up win No. 14.

TORONTO — The Yankees didn’t get what they come to expect every five or six days from ace Luis Severino, who was anything but his usual dominating self grinding his way through a three-run, five-inning start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

They survived this rare flash of ordinary pitching.

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Center fielder Aaron Hicks leaving halfway through the Yankees’ late-afternoon matinee at Rogers Center wasn’t in the game plan either, but this was announced as just left-leg cramping that also probably will turn out to be no big deal.

As for closer Aroldis Chapman limping off the mound in the ninth after striking out leadoff hitter Randal Grichuk on a slider … we’ll have to wait and see if this becomes something serious.

And other thing that went down in this 8-5 Yankees win that could affect them long-term is Blue Jays ace J.A. Happ looking so bad.

With rumors flying that Happ could be the Yankees’ big addition before the July 31 trade deadline, the veteran lefty certainly didn’t impress allowing six runs over 2 2/3 innings.

As for Chapman, he’s pitched with a sore left knee this season and he tweaked it on a ninth-inning pitch. The Yankees weren’t too concerned after the game – manager Aaron Boone said Chapman was pulled as a precaution – but the lefty likely will be shut down for a couple of days.

Happ (10-5) started his day by allowing a first-pitch homer to Brett Gardner, then Aaron Judge came up and also went deep to make it 2-0 Yankees five pitches into the game.

Happ then walked the next two hitters, Giancarlo Stanton and Hicks, and both of them wound up scoring on a two-out double by Brandon Drury that made it 4-0 in the first inning.

The Yankees scored two more in the third off Happ, who uncharacteristically walked six in an 84-pitch outing in which he threw just 47 strikes.

Meantime, it also was a bit of a struggle for Severino (14-2), who allowed a two-run homer in the second to Kevin Pillar and a solo shot in the fourth to Randal Grichuk.

With the Yankees up 7-3, Severino was gone after five innings with his pitch count up to 97.

It’s worth noting that a little something behind both aces struggling – or perhaps more than a little something – was plate umpire Lance Barrett’s strike zone, which was disputed by both clubs.

It even led to a couple of ejections, as Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia was tossed for yelling from the dugout after catcher Kyle Higashioka was rung up in the third and Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was thrown out one batter later as he left the mound after removing Happ.

Although Severino wasn’t at his best, he still picked up another win to become the fourth Yankee to get to 14 before the All-Star break, joining Lefty Gomez (14-2 in 1934), Whitey Ford (16-2 in 1961) and Mel Stottlemyre (14-7 in 1969).

Severino has one more scheduled start before the break, next Thursday in Cleveland, and after that he’ll be lined up to pitch on regular rest in the All-Star Game, perhaps as the American League starter.

The All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday, and three Yankees are locks to be selected – right fielder Aaron Judge as a starter plus Chapman and Severino.

Happ could be there, too, despite his poor outing against the Yankees, who rebounded from losing Friday night’s series opener 6-2.

NOTABLE

— Drury made his first start of the season at second base and handled three groundballs coming his way.

— Outfielder Clint Frazier was called up on from Triple-A on Saturday morning to replace pitcher David Hale, who was designated for assignment one day after allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings of long relief in Friday’s loss.

— Frazier replaced Hicks in the bottom of the fifth and was 0 for 2 with a strikeout at the plate.

LOOKING AHEAD

Sunday: Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m., YES. RHP Domingo German (2-4, 5.37) vs. LHP Ryan Borucki (0-1, 2.77).

Monday: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, doubleheader, 4:05 p.m., YES. Game 1, LHP CC Sabathia (6-3, 3.02) vs. TBA. Game 2, RHP Luis Cessa (0-1, 5.00) vs. TBA.

Tuesday: Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m., YES. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 4.58) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (2-9, 4.39).

Wednesday, Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m., YES. RHP Sonny Gray (5-7, 5.85) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (6-8, 4.08).

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