Severino bounces back and Yankees take advantage of Indians errors to force a Game 5

After winning Game 3 behind a dominant Masahiro Tanaka, the New York Yankees sent Luis Severino to the mound Monday night. It was the first time Severino toed the rubber since his disaster in the American League Wild Card game. This outing saw a much different result.

The young Yankees ace kept the Cleveland Indians lineup at bay, giving up three runs on four hits through seven innings. The Indians runs came one home runs by Carlos Santana and Roberto Perez, but the Yankees already had built a lead on Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer. Severino struck out seven and walked just one on the night.

Bauer, who started Game 4 on short rest, lasted just 1 2/3 innings before being lifted by manager Terry Francona. The Yankees did their early damage with two outs in the second inning after Indians third baseman Giovanny Urshela made a costly error.

Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro rocketed a sinking line-drive that Urshela was unable to handle. With Castro on base, third baseman Todd Frazier drilled an RBI-double that hit the left field line, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Aaron Hicks would stroke an RBI single, increasing the lead to 2-0.

Aaron Judge had been 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts in the ALDS prior to his second inning at-bat. Bauer had already sent the MVP candidate to the bench in the first. This time, Judge came through. The massive right-fielder smoked a two-run double to provide Severino and the Yankees with a four-run lead, knocking Bauer from the game.

A couple more errors by Cleveland (four in the game) allowed the Yankees to score a few more insurance runs. Gary Sanchez added a home run.

Dellin Betances started the eight inning for the Yankees, but was removed after walking two batters. Tommy Kahnle came on and threw two perfect innings, striking out five for the save.

The teams will now head back to Cleveland for Wednesday night’s Game 5. The Indians will turn to ace Corey Kluber while Yankees manager, Joe Girardi, will hand the ball to veteran lefty CC Sabathia. Kluber allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings in an uncharacteristically rough outing in Game 2 on Friday. Sabathia had been pitching a good game and was in line for a win before Girardi’s questionable decisions ended up costing the Yankees the game.

Game five is scheduled for Wednesday at 8pm EST in Cleveland and will be televised by FS1.