NEW YORK _ Aaron Judge became the second Yankee to homer in each of his first two major-league games, but highlights were rare in the team's 12-3 loss to Tampa Bay Sunday at the Stadium.
Luis Severino lasted just 3 2/3 innings and exited trailing 5-1 with runners at first and second. After Luis Cessa relieved him and allowed a three-run double to Evan Longoria two batters later, Severino's final line read: eight hits, seven earned runs, one walk, seven strikeouts and two home runs.
Recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Nathan Eovaldi went on the disabled list on Friday, Severino allowed a leadoff double to Logan Forsythe. Longoria doubled him in with one out. Forsythe also homered in the third to extend Tampa Bay's lead to 2-0. Severino was sent back to Triple-A after the game.
In the bottom of the third, Judge led off and laced a 92 mph fastball over the wall in right-center. Judge, who homered Saturday in his debut, joined Joe Lefebvre (May 22-23, 1980) as the only Yankees to leave the yard in each of their first two major-league games.
The Rays blew the game open with a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by Corey Dickerson's three-run homer to left and Longoria's bases-clearing double.
Gary Sanchez helped the Yankees cut into the 8-1 deficit with the second home run of his career, a two-run shot deep into the first deck in left.
In the seventh, Cessa allowed an RBI single to Matt Duffy and then a three-run homer to Nick Franklin. Cessa exited with two outs, going three innings and allowing five earned runs. He struck out two, walked one and gave up five hits.
