SEATTLE — In an effort not to overstress his arm, the goal was to get New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka into the sixth inning in 80 pitches in his return from the disabled list.
Tanaka blew away that expectation Wednesday. Tanaka was so good and so efficient with his pitch count, New York manager Joe Girardi had to avoid the temptation to send him back out for the eighth inning.
“His stuff was sharp today and his ability to move the ball around and expand the zone when he needed to,” Girardi said. “It’s not an easy lineup. They’ve got some boys who can hit the ball out of the ball yard and he did a nice job.”
Tanaka gave up one run over seven innings in his return from the disabled list, backed by home runs from Garrett Jones and Mark Teixeira and the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of Seattle Mariners with a 3-1 victory.
Making his first start in more than a month, Tanaka (3-1) was efficient and overpowering, with a bump in velocity on his fastball that had not been seen yet this season.
Despite being on an 80-pitch limit in his return, Tanaka got through seven innings without even reaching the 80-pitch mark, throwing just 78 pitches in handing the Mariners their fifth straight loss.
Tanaka struck out a season-high nine and had zero walks, going to a three-ball count against only two batters.
“I have to agree. I think it is the best outing I’ve had this season so far,” Tanaka said through an interpreter.
Tanaka had not pitched in the majors since April 23 when he went 6 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers and allowed one earned run in a no-decision. He landed on the disabled list five days later with wrist tendinitis and a forearm strain.
Thumbnail image via Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports Images
