This is not the way the New York Yankees wanted to start the postseason.
Starting pitcher Luis Severino was knocked out of Tuesday’s wild-card game in the first inning after allowing five of the first six batters to reach base. He got in trouble against the first batter he faced, and things did not get better.
Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier led off the AL wild-card game with a solo home run to left center to put his team up 1-0. Severino got Joe Mauer out next, but he walked Jorge Polanco and then gave up a missile of a home run to Eddie Rosario to make it 3-0.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi was so concerned by the rocky start that he grabbed the phone to the bullpen immediately after the second homer.
Things didn’t get much better as Eduardo Escobar then laced a line drive single, while Max Kepler battled back from a two-strike count to double.
Severino was the Yankees’ best starter all season, but he left down 3-0 and responsible for runners on second and third with only one out.
This will put his poor start Tuesday in context:
Severino gave up 2 HRs in 30 Sept innings. 2 in 1st 4 batters tonight. #Yankees #Twins
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 4, 2017
