HOUSTON — Carried by Luis Severino and Giancarlo Stanton, the New York Yankees were able to win their second game of this crucial early series, 4-0, against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
A night after the Yankee bullpen pitched eight innings, Severino gave them all a rest with a dominant complete game performance versus last year’s World Series winners.
The Yankee ace was just masterful, giving up just five-hits, a walk, while striking out ten Astros.
As for the offense, last year’s NL MVP finally showed some signs of life, driving in all four Yankee runs. Stanton ended the day 3-for-4, with two homers and a double.
The Yankees, who have been dominated by Dallas Keuchel over the past few years, got to him tonight with the help of Stanton.
With Didi Gregorius on-base, Stanton shot a Keuchel fastball the other way, just over the fence for a home run. This was the first time a Yankee had ever taken the Houston starter yard.
Other way 👉 pic.twitter.com/k21i0URv9D
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 3, 2018
Stanton then hit another one off of Keuchel in the fourth, to left field this time, to extend the New York lead to 3-0.
The Astros mustered some sort of a rally in the seventh but Severino continued to make key pitches to get the Yankees out of it.
He was also helped by a stellar defensive play by Gleyber Torres to rob Alex Bregman of a hit and record the first out of the frame.
#Yankees Gleyber Torres is a 70-grade hitter, but he's pretty adept with the glove too. Watch him take a hit away from #Astros Alex Bregman. pic.twitter.com/9n4noFNayi
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 3, 2018
In the next inning, New York would immediately respond with some insurance. Though Aaron Judge and Gregorius followed a leadoff double from Aaron Hicks with outs, Stanton would pick them both up.
Facing Hector Rondon, the Yankee left-fielder hammered a pitch to right field for a double and his fourth RBI of the night.
Severino, who was pitching with palpable confidence all night, came out for the eighth and ninth and just continued to dominate.
With a 110 pitch performance, Severino earned his first complete game shutout and his team’s 20th win of the season.
The Yankees go for the series win tomorrow, with Masahiro Tanaka on the mound facing Lance McCullers Jr.
Current Yankees Record: 20-10
