The New York Yankees were the big winners of the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes, signing 25-year-old Japanese starting pitcher to a seven-year, $155 million contract in January.
On Friday, the Yankees got their first look at their prized import in a game that mattered. The Toronto Blue Jays, with a lineup that included sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, were the opposition.
Before Masahiro Tanaka faced either of them for the first time, Toronto already had a run on the scoreboard. Blue Jays lead-off hitter Melky Cabrera homered on Tanaka’s third pitch of the game.
How’s that for a welcoming to a new league?
Tanaka went on to pitch seven innings, allowing six hits, no walks, and two earned runs while striking out eight. Overall, not a bad first time out.
