Luis Severino looks like ace in long-awaited Yankees return

The Yankees’ season-long wait for Luis Severino finally ended Tuesday night and in the right-hander’s first outing of the season, he certainly looked like the ace they’d hoped he’d be.

Severino mowed down the Angels over four innings in his return from right rotator cuff inflammation that was followed by a severe lat strain.

Aaron Boone and Severino had been encouraged by his velocity and arsenal in three minor league rehab starts. The biggest question was whether Severino would have his command — and have enough time to fine-tune his stuff in time for the playoffs.

Early indications were good, as Severino routinely hit the mid-90s throughout the 67-pitch outing. He topped out at 98 mph and made some of his best pitches when he needed to.

After throwing his final pitch of the night for the final out of the fourth inning, he received handshakes in the dugout.

Severino took the mound and immediately fired a 93 mph fastball to Brian Goodwin, but the center fielder worked a 12-pitch walk to start the game. David Fletcher followed with an 0-2 flare to left to give the Angels runners on first and second before Kole Calhoun bounced back to the mound for a force-out.

With runners on the corners, Severino got Albert Pujols to ground into a double play to end the 19-pitch inning.

Severino cruised through the second — and hit 98 mph on the radar gun — before the Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the inning.

He pitched around a leadoff walk to Michael Hermosillo in the third and a single by Calhoun to start the fourth.

In all, Severino gave up two hits and a pair of walks, while striking out four, in four innings.

He was replaced by Jonathan Loaisiga to start the fifth after the Yankees’ six-run fourth made it 8-0.

“Obviously, it’s been a long road for him working his way back,’’ Boone said before the game. “He’s been doing well now for a while. I know he’s been champing at the bit to get back.”

Severino could have two more starts before the playoffs begin and it remains to be seen if he gets built all the way back up to 90-100 pitches, but he looks ready to provide a boost to the pitching staff just in time for the playoffs.

With Greg Joyce

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