Following Aaron Judge’s first-inning home run, Masahiro Tanaka turned in a gutsy, and calming performance for the New York Yankees. Tanaka was exactly what the doctor ordered after J.A. Happ’s Game 1 meltdown.
An early exit for David Price, courtesy of a Gary Sanchez home run and a shot off the Green Monster from Andrew McCutchen gave Tanaka a little breathing room. He didn’t need much, though.
Tanaka went five strong innings, only surrendering one run on a Xander Bogaerts home run in the fourth inning. The Japanese hurler was steady as they come through five innings before handing the ball off to Dellin Betances to face the heart of the Boston Red Sox order.