Masahiro Tanaka’s playoff résumé gave the Yankees confidence as he headed to the mound to face the Astros for a pressure-packed Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday night.
The right-hander picked a bad time for a mediocre start.
Tanaka lacked the sharpness he showed in Game 1, and while he survived a rough third inning that could have been even worse, it wasn’t enough in an 8-3 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Tanaka retired six of the first seven batters he faced before losing his way in the third inning. He began by walking No.