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| Tanaka in dominant form. Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports |
Mashiro Tanaka registered his league leading eleventh win in the Yankees 3-1 victory over Toronto. Despite giving up a leadoff home run to Jose Reyes on the first pitch of the game, Tanaka was able to strike out two Blue Jays to end the inning.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
In addition he flashed his feather in this game as well. Off a Melky Cabrera shot up the middle,it initially knocked off Tanaka’s glove but he recovered in time to get the out at first base.
Tanaka was masterful mixing up his sliders and split fingered pitches. Struck out the side in the fifth inning. He wound up going six innings, giving up five hits, one run, walking two, striking out ten Toronto batters and lowering his E.R.A. to a sparkling 1.99.
The Yankees got their first hit of the game courtesy of Kelly Johnson, who doubled to right center field. Brett Gardner stepped up to the plate and promptly deposited a two run hr off the right field net into the seats giving New York a 2-1 lead at the time. Going back to his first at bat, Gardner pushed starting Blue Jays pitcher to Marcus Stroman twelve pitches, but Blue Jays second baseman Munenori Kawaski made an outstanding defensive play off the bullet shot Gardner sent right to him.
The Yankees increased their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of fifth. Derek Jeter beat out a slow dribbler for an infield single. He then took second base on a wild pitch uncorked by Toronto pitcher Aaron Loup.
Mark Texiera singled up right up the middle driving in Jeter who became the tenth player in all of Major League Baseball history to score 1,900 runs.
Dellin Betances relieved Tanaka in the seventh inning and retired the side in back to back innings. Betances leads all major league relievers with 67 strikeouts.
David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth inning to notch his 17th save in 19 opportunities.
Manager Joe Girardi picked up his 600th win as Yankees manager.
With the victory, New York moved to within 3 ½ games of the first place Blue Jays.