Luis Severino dominates Royals over eight shutout innings as Yankees win

Not enough offense and leaky middle relief cost Jordan Montgomery the night before. Luis Severino left nothing to chance Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old righthander turned in one of his best starts of the season, pitching eight innings in a 3-0 victory over the Royals at the Stadium.

“He was unbelievable,” Dellin Betances said. “It was fun to watch.”

Severino (3-2, 3.11 ERA) retired the first nine batters and was still throwing a tick short of 100 mph as his pitch count blew past 100. He allowed only four hits, threw a season-high 114 pitches, struck out seven and walked one. That gave him 61 strikeouts and 14 walks in 55 innings.

“That shows you what he’s got, still throwing 99, 98 at the end,” said Didi Gregorius, who homered in the third inning to give Severino a 1-0 lead and doubled and scored in the seventh to make it 3-0.

With the Orioles losing to the surprising Twins, the Yankees (27-17) moved a season-high 2½ games ahead in the AL East.

With a bullpen Joe Girardi has described as “taxed” in recent days, Severino’s outing was welcome and needed. “Tremendous effort on his part,” Girardi said.

By this time last season, Severino, who showed electric stuff in late 2015 when he burst on the scene, had lost his rotation spot. He admitted to having lost all confidence in his changeup in last year’s spring training, and it carried over into the season.

Though there have been some rickety moments this season, Severino has shown more glimpses than not of having the top-of-the-rotation quality, or close to the top, that the Yankees have long envisioned.

“It feels good to help the team and have an outing like this,” said Severino, who pitched seven shutout innings at Fenway April 26. “Last year my command was really bad and my changeup wasn’t there. This year I have a lot more confidence in my changeup and my fastball is there.”

The Royals (19-27), last in the AL in runs (153), managed only those four hits and put exactly one runner in scoring position. Betances struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save.

There was one somber note for the Yankees. Centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury left in the top of the second with a neck sprain and concussion, the result of crashing into the wall while catching Alcides Escobar’s drive to lead off the game. Girardi said Ellsbury would be placed on the seven-day DL, meaning the Yankees will make a roster move, likely calling up either Rob Refsnyder or Mason Williams from Triple-A.

Gregorius led off the third by driving a Jason Hammel fastball deep into the seats in right-center for his third homer. Hammel (1-6, 5.98) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Escobar had the Royals’ first hit, leading off the fourth with a sharp single to left. Severino retired three straight.

The Royals got their only runner in scoring position in the fifth when Brandon Moss doubled with two outs. Severino retired Whit Merrifield on a grounder to short.

Alex Gordon led off the sixth with an infield hit. Severino retired three straight, ending the inning by blowing a 99-mph fastball past Lorenzo Cain.

“He was still throwing 98, 99 that last inning, that’s impressive,” said Aaron Judge, who went 1-for-3 with a walk. “He’s got that kind of talent. He’s one of our best pitchers. It’s fun to play behind someone like that.”

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.