Severino, late runs carry Yanks past Braves
ATLANTA -- Didi Gregorius' seventh-inning double ended Matt Wisler's night and provided sufficient support to Luis Severino, who helped the Yankees claim a 3-1 win over the Braves on Saturday night at Turner Field.
A first-inning wild pitch accounted for the only run Wisler had surrendered until Chase Headley and Gregorius began the seventh inning with consecutive doubles. Brian McCann's eighth-inning double off Edwin Jackson provided an insurance run for the Yankees, who remained 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Blue Jays in the American League East race.
"It's good. We scored 15 runs [Friday], and it's going the right way right now," Gregorius said. "That's what we want, for that momentum to keep going forward."
Severino scattered four hits over six scoreless innings while making the fifth start of his career. After stranding a pair of runners in both the fourth and sixth innings, the Braves finally cracked the scoreboard when a Justin Wilson error allowed Christian Bethancourt to cross the plate in the seventh inning.
"I feel good about when [Severino] takes the mound," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I like what he's done from day one. His starts have not been necessarily easy starts. He's handled it extremely well. He continues to impress us."
Video: NYY@ATL: Severino blanks Braves over six innings
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Didi does it: When Gregorius caught a hot streak during a recent road trip, Girardi said he joked that the team would start putting him up in hotels at home, too. It might not be the worst idea; Gregorius drove in a run for the third straight game -- tying his career-high -- by pounding an RBI double in the seventh inning off Edwin Jackson. That gave the Yanks a two-run lead at the time, and Brian McCann's eighth-inning RBI double provided some insurance.
"I'm just trying to see the ball and hit the ball," Gregorius said. "I'm feeling good, so I'm just trying to keep it up. That's the best thing I can do right now. Trying to help the team."
Video: NYY@ATL: Gregorius plates Headley with double in 7th
One to build on: Wisler surrendered just two runs and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time since July 26. The rookie showed great composure after enduring a 30-pitch first inning that was marred by consecutive two-out walks and a 0-2 wild pitch thrown to Headley with the bases loaded. Wisler encountered some misfortune when center fielder Cameron Maybin got turned around and was unable to catch Headley's seventh-inning leadoff double before it hit the center-field wall.
"The biggest thing I need to work on is getting the ball down in the zone," Wisler said. "A couple balls were up in the zone today. The one to Headley cost me." More >
Video: NYY@ATL: Wisler tosses six frames of two-run ball
Betances slams the door: Following Wilson's error that allowed a run in the seventh, Dellin Betances entered to handle a two-on, two-out spot and, after issuing a walk, retired Freddie Freeman on a hot shot back to the mound that the pitcher fielded behind his back and flipped to first base. Betances also caught Andrelton Simmons looking at a called third strike with two men on in the eighth, keeping the 21-year-old Severino in line for his second consecutive victory.
Video: NYY@ATL: Betances makes no-look snag, ends jam in 7th
Squandered opportunities: The Braves stranded 10 runners and might have blown their best opportunity to rattle Severino when Nick Swisher grounded into a double play to end the first inning. Bethancourt struck out to strand a pair of runners in the fourth inning, and a Jace Peterson groundout followed the consecutive two-out singles recorded by Swisher and Adonis Garcia in the sixth.
"We had some opportunities offensively, but [Severino] has a pretty darn good arm," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That's what they're supposed to look like right there."
WHAT'S NEXT
Yankees: Nathan Eovaldi will attempt to extend his unbeaten streak on Sunday, when the Yankees complete their three-game series in Atlanta at 1:35 p.m. ET. Eovaldi comes into the start holding an 8-0 record with a 2.93 ERA over his last 12 outings. He is 2-3 with a 2.42 ERA in 12 career starts vs. the Braves.
Braves: Atlanta will counter with Julio Teheran, who has posted a 2.55 ERA in 13 home starts. Teheran has limited opponents to a .210 batting average while allowing three earned runs or fewer in each of his first five August starts.
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