On Sunday, the New York Yankees played against the Cincinnati Reds, but Aaron Judge wasn’t included in their lineup. However, the Yankees still lost 4-1 despite having Luis Severino back in their rotation. The team’s great pitching efforts and the contribution of Harrison Bader and Gleyber Torres helped to bring some strength to the offense. This win gives the Yankees 11-3 record in their last 14 games, marking a significant streak.
The most critical news, however, was Severino’s comeback, marking his 2023 debut. The right-handed pitcher underwent several setbacks with injuries since 2019, which led to his absence in his last season. In his most recent game, playing against the Reds, Severino pitched for four 2/3 innings, striking out five and giving away only one run while walking one. Severino’s fastball speed hovered around 96 to 97 mph, reaching up to 98.6 mph on his 68th pitch of the game.
Yet, there was a heated debate over the one point he conceded. In the first innings, Yankees right fielder Jake Bowers was unable to catch Spencer Steer’s loop liner by sliding to the foul line, initially ruling it out as a fair ball. However, upon further review, it was decided to count it as fair, leading the umpires to award home plate to Jonathan India, who was on the first base. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected from the game after disputing the umpire’s discretion on this particular matter. Despite the argument, the call was considered defensible and had minimal impact on the game’s outcome.
The Yankees regained their momentum in the fifth inning, taking a 2-1 lead with Vader’s two-run home run and Anthony Volpe’s RBI double, leading the team to two more runs. With this win, the Yankees have emerged victorious in 11 of their last 14 games, pushing them to a season-high record of nine games above .500 with a 29-20 record. Severino’s return has also been a significant boost for the team, with Carlos Rodon and Frankie Montas still on the injured list.