TAMPA, Fla. -- Masahiro Tanaka passed his first test of the spring, throwing two scoreless innings against the Phillies on Sunday at Bright House Field while getting a little help from his defense.
Playing third base for the first time as a professional, Rob Refsnyder turned a nifty double play on Carlos Ruiz's second-inning sharp grounder, bailing Tanaka out of a jam after he had surrendered a pair of singles to open the frame.
Tanaka then issued a walk before completing his 31-pitch debut with a strikeout of David Lough, Tanaka's second of the afternoon.