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Yankees can't solve Griffin, Severino struggles again

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The New York Yankees still can't solve A.J. Griffin, and Luis Severino can't beat anyone this season.

Griffin pitched eight strong innings, Mitch Moreland hit a bases-loaded two-run single during a five-run third and the Texas Rangers beat the Yankees 10-1 Tuesday night.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The New York Yankees still can't solve A.J. Griffin, and Luis Severino can't beat anyone this season.

Griffin pitched eight strong innings, Mitch Moreland hit a bases-loaded two-run single during a five-run third and the Texas Rangers beat the Yankees 10-1 Tuesday night.

Griffin (3-0), back in the majors after a two-year absence following Tommy John surgery, is 3-0 in his career against the Yankees with a 2.49 ERA. He had a scoreless streak of 13 1/3 innings against New York snapped in the seventh inning when Mark Teixeira singled home Brett Gardner.

"We should have put better swings on the mistakes, but he didn't have many," Teixeira said. "He hit corners a lot, and give him credit."

Severino (0-3) lasted only three innings, giving up seven hits, two walks and a wild pitch. His ERA rose to 6.86 as Texas zeroed in on his fastball.

"It seems that the fastballs they hit were between the thigh and the waist," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He had a hard time throwing his off-speed for strikes. So, it kind of put him in a tough situation."

Severino, the youngest pitcher to start a major league game this season at age 22, said he's trying to do too much but hasn't lost confidence in his breaking pitches.

"If I try to throw it one time and it's not working, I don't want to throw it anymore," Severino said.

He went into the game with the lowest run support of any American League starter (1.33).

The Rangers ended a four-game skid, during which they totaled five runs, and scored nine runs with two outs. They were no-hit for six innings by Yankees right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on Monday night.

"It was time for us to have those key hits," said Texas' Elvis Andrus, who had his second three-hit game of the season to raise his batting average to .343. "It's not going to happen all the time. But today, we didn't think about it and continued to be aggressive."

Infielder Ronald Torreyes had two hits while making his fifth start of the season for the Yankees, in place of third baseman Chase Headley. He is 8 for 16 in eight games.

ALL'S WELL WITH CHAPMAN

LHP Aroldis Chapman, serving a 30-game suspension, is throwing well in extended spring training in Florida, Girardi said. "He's throwing basically every other day in a simulated game," Girardi said. "Can't be a whole lot of fun for the kids that are facing him." Chapman is scheduled to return to the active roster on May 9, when the Yankees will open a home series against the Kansas City Royals.

GIRARDI: BAN THE SHIFT

The Yankees manager would prohibit shifting infielders to the opposite side of the field if it was his decision. "It's an illegal defense," he said. "It's like basketball. Guard your man; guard your spot. I think the field was built this way for a reason, and it's two on one side and two on the other." Since shifts are allowed, Girardi said he'll continue to use them.

BETTER SAFE

With heavy rain and wind headed to the ballpark, the Rangers announced in the eighth inning that the upper deck should be evacuated. There were showers during the game, and a deluge hit about 45 minutes after the game ended.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: Girardi said he hopes DH Alex Rodriguez (left oblique) can start in Wednesday's series finale. Rodriguez hasn't played since leaving the lineup during Sunday's game.

Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels (groin strain) said he hopes to start Saturday at home against the Angels after being skipped Monday. Hamels threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Monday and said Tuesday that he felt good.

UP NEXT

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (1-1) has allowed 20 hits and eight walks in 15 1/3 innings. Sabathia is 6-2 career vs. Texas despite a 5.04 ERA. The Rangers are 0-4 in starts made this season by LHP Martin Perez (0-2). In his only previous career start against New York, Perez allowed eight earned runs in one inning last July 28 in a 21-5 loss.

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