Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Box Score on May 24, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 24, 2017

NEW YORK -- Luis Severino tied a career high by pitching eight innings and led the New York Yankees to a 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals Wednesday night.

Severino (3-2) retired the first nine hitters and allowed four hits while becoming the first Yankees starter to complete at least seven innings since Masahiro Tanaka on May 8 in Cincinnati. Severino pitched eight innings for the second time in his career and completed at least seven for the fifth time this season.

He struck out seven and walked one, and he escaped when the Royals threatened. The right-hander faced the Royals for the first time and threw a career-high 114 pitches.

In the fourth, Severino fell behind 3-0 on Eric Hosmer with a runner on first. He ended a lengthy at-bat by getting a called strike three on a changeup.

Two innings later, he reached 99 mph on an inning-ending strikeout of Lorenzo Cain with a runner on first. In the seventh, he started an inning-ending double play against Jorge Bonifacio.

Didi Gregorius homered in the third inning off Jason Hammel (1-6), and the Yankees added runs in the sixth and seventh.

Gary Sanchez opened the sixth with a single, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Matt Holliday.

Gregorius opened the seventh with a double and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on Brett Gardner's single up the middle through a drawn-in infield.

After getting a three-run lead, Severino had a runner on first with one out in the eighth. He worked through it by striking out Alex Gordon on a slider and getting Alcides Escobar on a fly ball to right on a 98 mph fastball.

Dellin Betances completed the four-hitter by notching his fourth save.

The Yankees won for the sixth time in 14 games but lost center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to a concussion and sprained neck. Ellsbury crashed into the wall while catching a fly ball Escobar hit on the game's first pitch.

Hammel allowed three runs and six hits in six-plus innings as the Royals lost for the sixth time in nine games and were shut out for the fifth time.

NOTES: The Royals placed RHP Nate Karns on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, with an extensor strain and irritation in his right forearm. ... RHP Miguel Almonte will make his first career start Thursday afternoon in place of Karns. ... New York 1B Greg Bird (bruised right ankle) said he continued to feel good after continuing his baseball activities. He will take Thursday off, go through live batting practice Friday and Saturday and could appear in rehab games sometime next week. ... The Yankees said LHP Aroldis Chapman (rotator cuff inflammation) could start a throwing program on Saturday.