Rodriguez, Severino lead Yankees past Mets 6-3

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run single, Luis Severino took a shutout into the fifth inning and the New York Yankees beat the New York Mets 6-3 on Tuesday night in a spring training edition of the Subway Series.

Severino gave up five hits in 4 1-3 innings. He was charged with two runs after being replaced with two on by Aroldis Chapman, who gave up a run-scoring grounder to Neil Walker and Yoenis Cespedes' RBI double.

Severino had not allowed a run in 10 2-3 innings over his previous three appearances. The 22-year-old right-hander went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts last year during his first major league season.

"He's pitched very well this spring," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's probably pitched as well as anyone that we have."

Rodriguez had a two-run single during a five-run second against Steven Matz, who yielded five runs and seven hits in four innings. Matz has given up 11 runs over 10 innings in his last three appearances. He did retire his final eight hitters.

"I had one bad inning this time out, but I bounced back from it," Matz said. "That's stuff you're going to deal with in the season, too."

HIGH HOPES BACK HOME

Chapman, who is from Cuba, watched the first few innings of the Tampa Bay Rays' exhibition game in Havana against the Cuban national team with several teammates.

"It's a nice excitement to have an opportunity to watch the game," Chapman said through a translator. "There's a lot of talk about a possible arrangement where Cuban players would have the opportunity to come to the United States and play and be able to go back. If that's the case I think it's something that's going to be very good because they won't have to do anything risky, put their lives in danger to get here."

STARTING TIME

Mets: Matz struck out three and walked two.

Yankees: Severino had five strikeouts and one walk.

MORE FROM THE MOUND

Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi allowed three runs, three hits and struck out six over four innings in a Triple-A game against Toronto minor leaguers. He gave up a three-run homer to Jorge Saez in the second. "Other than that, it was good," Eovaldi said. ... Regis Philbin threw the ceremonial first pitch to Girardi.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: 3B David Wright (spinal stenosis) didn't make the trip after playing in consecutive games for the first time Sunday and Monday. "He's doing fine," manager Terry Collins said. Wright will play in a minor league game Wednesday before playing in big league games Thursday and Friday. ... Collins said Wright will play third and not DH in the season-opening interleague series at Kansas City.

Yankees: Girardi didn't rule out CF Jacoby Ellsbury, hit by a pitch on the right wrist Saturday, from playing Thursday. "It feels better the last two days," Ellsbury said.

FAMILY TIME

Yankees guest spring training instructor Lee Mazzilli and his son, Mets infield prospect L.J. Mazzilli, were together on the field for the first time in major league uniforms. Lee Mazzilli took a selfie with his son and told him, "You're in the big leagues - have fun."

MOVING DAY

The Yankees optioned OF Slade Heathcott to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

UP NEXT

Mets: Bartolo Colon starts Wednesday against Toronto.

Yankees: Expected opening-day starter Masahiro Tanaka faces Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday.