Yanks' bats run cold after hot start against old friend Severino

NEW YORK -- It looked like the Yankees were going to have a great day with the sticks on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. After all, they scored two quick runs off right-hander (and former Yankee) Luis Severino in the first inning. But New York’s lumber was silenced the rest of the way as they lost to the Athletics, 3-2.

The A’s broke a 2-2 tie against Yankees closer David Bednar in the ninth. The problems for Bednar started quickly. After allowing a single and double to Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, respectively, Tyler Soderstrom struck out, but Brent Rooker hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Kurtz to take a one-run lead.

"I was able to get ahead of guys, but I wasn’t able to put them away, especially in a tight game like that. It can’t happen,” Bednar said.

The Yankees could do nothing in the ninth against right-hander Joel Kuhnel, who retired the side in order to win the game and lock down his first save since 2022.

The offense also couldn't do much of anything in the batter’s box after that first inning. From that point on, Yankees hitters collected one hit and struck out 12 times against five pitchers, including Severino, who ended his night having allowed just those first-inning runs in five frames. New York went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position on the night.

In that first inning, the Bronx Bombers had a chance to deliver the knockout punch. After scoring their first run on a bloop single by Cody Bellinger, Severino managed to strike out Ben Rice and Giancarlo Stanton.

But Severino lost control of his pitches again. He walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. to load the bases and issued another free pass to J.C. Escarra, forcing in the second run of the game. But the threat ended after Amed Rosario struck out.

"We scored two [and tried to] make it tough on Sevy, but we just couldn’t break through,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Then they held us down. It’s just one of those nights where we didn’t do enough, especially during the second half of the game, offensively.

"Sevy has great stuff and he didn’t flinch. It’s one of those areas, sometimes, [where] guys can fold a little bit. But credit to him. He buckled down. He didn’t give in at all. He was able to work around some walks, but ultimately we couldn’t get that big hit to finish it.”

Since Severino left them as a free agent after the 2023 season, the Yankees had had their way with the right-hander, who allowed 13 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings (two starts) against them prior to Wednesday’s action.

It was a different story this time around.

"Just trusting my stuff. I felt like I was trying to be too perfect that first inning and not trying to get hit,” Severino said.

"After that, I regrouped … and was just trying to attack their hitters."

With the score tied at 2-2 in the seventh inning, New York had a chance to take the lead against left-hander Hogan Harris. Runners were on first and second with two outs, but Bellinger struck out to end the threat.

"I was seeing the ball. [Harris] did a good job of pitching,” Bellinger said. “Ultimately, I tried to foul that pitch off. I thought it was a good pitch. He threw it well and it missed my barrel. Obviously, late in the game, you want to come through there. I just wasn’t able to do it.”