BALTIMORE — After three seasons in which he didn’t throw much, it’s hard to know what this season has in store for Luis Severino.
Monday night provided another indication that the right-hander will at least be able to approach the standard he set when he was among the majors’ top pitchers before being sidetracked by injuries.
Severino allowed just one hit in six innings in the Yankees’ 6-2 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards, also triggered by three home runs from the offense – including a three-run shot from Jose Trevino in fourth.
The only hit Severino gave up was an early homer from Anthony Santander late in the fourth and was followed by a walk to Ramon Urias.
And then Severino capped his outing by striking out the last nine batters he saw, as the Yankees won for the seventh time in their last eight games.
The win left them at 26-9, tying the third-best 35-game start in franchise history — tying the 1998 squad that won 114 regular-season games en route to a Series title. world.
And just when you think there might be a weakness to worry about, it’s fixed.
Severino had three impressive outings to start the year but was shaky in all three starts heading into Monday, posting a 5.74 ERA over 15 ²/₃ runs in those last three outings.
The Orioles, who have lost four in a row and five of six, were no match for him.
“Every year I want to grow as a pitcher,” Severino said. “I don’t think about how many people I can take out.”
The Yankees offense had already given Severino a comfortable margin to work with, mostly thanks to a Trevino three-run homer, his first homer as a Yankee. Josh Donaldson and Anthony Rizzo homered back-to-back in the ninth.
The game started off a bit rough, as the Yankees left the bases loaded at the top of the first without scoring.
Four-hitter Joey Gallo dropped a fly ball from Cedric Mullins near the line to start down first for a three-base error.
After Severino walked Trey Mancini, Santander lined up softly in second, where Gleyber Torres took a dive to his left.
Mancini, caught in no man’s land, raced to second place and was easily passed.
Aaron Boone called it “the game of the game”, as Severino struggled with his command, but navigated after the double play.
“It was huge,” Boone said. “I didn’t even consider Gleyber doing this game. … [Severino] taken from there.
The Yankees had picked up a run in the third on Giancarlo Stanton’s brace at left center that scored Rizzo from the first. But Stanton got caught in a count between second and third to end the set.
Trevino then snapped an 11 no-hitter streak by hitting one on the right foul post to make it 4-0.
Rizzo and Donaldson added solo shots in the ninth inning before Aroldis Chapman gave up a run late in the frame.
The last time the Yankees visited Camden Yards, they lost two of three and fell to .500 10 games into the season.
What a difference a month makes.
They now look like the best team in the American League and their biggest questions are about things like how to save Severino for the long season.
Boone said before the game that the team had not discussed an inning limit, but added that they could push back an occasional start or get him out early on days when the bullpen is rested in goal. to preserve his sleeves.
“We’re encouraged by what we’re seeing,” Boone said.
That goes for Severino and most of the rest of the team.