The struggles for Yankees ace Luis Severino continue for a fourth consecutive start, this time against the lowly Royals at Yankee Stadium.
Severino allowed six runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings with a walk and five strikeouts.
The righty cruised through the first two innings and looked like the pitcher he had been through the first half of the season, but began to fall apart thereafter.
In the third, Severino allowed a two-run double to Rosell Herrera. He escaped a jam by stranding two runners to end the inning. He was able to get through the fourth, thanks in part to a caught stealing, but he wouldn't stay much longer.
In the fifth, Severino allowed a lead-off single then a double two batters later. With runners on second and third, Salvador Perez knocked a two-run single. After Perez, Lucas Duda crushed a two-run home run, putting the Royals up 6-0.
Severino's ERA was 1.98 as of July 1, but has now raised nearly a full run to 2.94.