I thought I had more time to do this one. I thought the early-season-locked-forced doubleheader was tomorrow, not today. Oh well.
Last night, the Yankees started their final series of the regular season, against the Texas Rangers at the new (3rd season) Globe Life Field in Arlington. They didn't get what they wanted, a 62nd home run from Aaron Judge, as he collected only a leadoff single in 4 at-bats. Kyle Higashioka singled home a run in the 5th inning, while Marwin González and Giancarlo Stanton hit home runs (not back-to-back) in the 8th.
That was all Luis Severino needed in his start. He almost became a huge story himself, as he threw serious smoke, pitching a no-hitter for 7 innings. His only baserunner came when he walked Josh Smith in the 3rd, but he was erased on a double play. As Corey Kluber (now with the Tampa Bay Rays) did with a no-hitter in this same stadium last season, Sevy messed with Texas.
Aaron Boone took him out after 7 innings and 94 pitches, not wanting to risk renewed injury to his recently-returned arm. History or no, it was the right thing to do, especially since the Yankees will need every healthy pitcher they can get for the Playoffs. Who knows, with the injuries to the bullpen, Severino might be shifted into it. Miguel Castro was rusty in the 8th, and put the game back into doubt, but got out of it, and Scott Effross pitched a perfect 9th to end it.
Yankees 3, Rangers 1. WP: Severino (7-3). SV: Effross (4). LP: Martín Pérez (12-8).
Today, it's a doubleheader. There are 3 games left for Judge to get Number 62.