ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the Yankees close to a deal that would strengthen the back end of the best bullpen in baseball, Masahiro Tanaka pitched like a much-needed front-end starter Tuesday night.
The Yankees and Orioles were close to a trade that would bring lefty reliever Zach Britton to The Bronx for three minor league pitchers. While the final details of that deal were being worked out, Tanaka delivered his best performance of his up-and-down season by hurling the Yankees to a 4-0 victory over the Rays in front of 19,579 at Tropicana Field.
Following his good but not great start on July 15 in Cleveland, Tanaka acknowledged he needed to improve and he delivered the best outing of his 16 starts.