NEW YORK: Masahiro Tanaka, making his first start since early July, pitched five plus solid innings as the New York Yankees cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday.
The Japanese ace improved to 13-4 as he gave up five hits and stuck out four before being pulled with one out in the sixth inning of the Major League Baseball contest at Yankee Stadium.
Tanaka had been sidelined with a partial ligament tear in his right elbow since July 8.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tanaka could make one more start, as he struggles to recover from the injury and try to avoid having to undergo ligament-replacement surgery.
“We got through today, so let’s get through (Monday),” Girardi said.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope he feels good (Monday).”
Doctors haven’t ruled out the possibility that Tanaka would require surgery, which would likely sideline him all of season.
He surrendered hits to the first two Blue Jay batters but then settled in nicely, allowing just three the rest of the way.
Tanaka was on a tight pitch count and reached 70 by the time he was pulled. If there are no complications, Tanaka could start next Saturday in Boston.
“Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with how I pitched today,” Tanaka said. “I was able to go pretty strong today. I’m relieved.”AFP
