Yankees Recap vs. Tigers: Offense Flat, Severino Charged with the Loss

It was a cold fourth game for the New York Yankees (2-1) as they challenged the Detroit Tigers (2-0) at Comerica Park. Alex Rodriguez had the day off as Mark Teixeira took over the DH spot, and following a blistering start to his season, Starlin Castro was moved into the lineup’s 3-hole. It was also Luis Severino‘s first start of the year, and the Yankees needed a solid performance from the young right-hander.

Yankees lineup:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Brett Gardner, LF
3. Starlin Castro, 2B
4. Mark Teixeira, DH
5. Dustin Ackley, 1B
6. Chase Headley, 3B
7. Didi Gregorius, SS
8. Aaron Hicks, RF
9. Austin Romine, C

P – Luis Severino

Tigers lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Justin Upton, LF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Anthony Gose, CF

P – Jordan Zimmerman

After Zimmerman threw up a zero to begin the game, Severino served up a lead-off double to Kinsler. Severino then struck out Upton on a 97-mph fastball, but Cabrera toughed out his at-bat and knocked an RBI-single into right field for the Tigers’ first run. Sevvy stranded Cabrera on first base by ringing up J.D. Martinez on an off-speed pitch.

Although Zimmerman had walked two batters in previous innings, it wasn’t until the third inning that the Yankees collected their first base hit (an Ellsbury single). But Ellsbury ran the team out of the inning when he got smoked on a stolen base attempt.

With two outs and a runner on first in the Tigers’ half of the third, Aaron Hicks made a highlight reel catch to prevent a run from scoring and end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Iglesias lofted an RBI-single into the outfield with the bases loaded that extended the Tigers’ lead to 2-0. Gose tacked on another run with a ground out to second base, leaving runners on the corners with two outs. Severino escaped without any further damage by inducing a ground ball from Kinsler.

Severino quickly fell into trouble in the sixth inning, surrendering two singles and was lifted from the ballgame. The Yankees have still yet to get six innings from one of their starters in an outing.

Johnny Barbato came in to replace Severino and immediately made his presence known with a strikeout of James McCann. After giving up a single to Iglesias that loaded the bases, Barbato struck out Gose for the second out. The rookie reliever impressively navigated through the inning, getting Kinsler to ground out to Headley for the third out.

Luis Cessa made his Yankee debut in the seventh. Upton was his first challenge, and Cessa set him down swinging at a fastball. The next batter didn’t share the same fate however, as Cabrera deposited a pitch into the right field stands to lengthen the deficit to 4-0.

Heading into the top of the ninth, the Yankees had their no. 2-3-4 hitters due up. Gardner collected the Yankees’ third hit of the ballgame (all were singles, the other two from Ellsbury and Teixeira) to begin the inning, but the rest of the lineup failed to make any noise.

On Saturday, CC Sabathia looks to give the Yankees their third win of the season at 1:10 PM ET, and he’ll square off against Detroit’s Mike Pelfrey.