ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Masahiro Tanaka has picked a hell of a time to turn into Kei Igawa.
With the Yankees having dropped six of nine entering Saturday’s game against the Rays at Tropicana Field and Tanaka not having pitched well in the previous three outings, they desperately needed a solid outing from a pitcher whose title of ace has disappeared from a rotation that has performed very poorly lately.
Instead, Tanaka was punished for a second straight start and deservedly absorbed a 9-5 defeat that was witnessed by 22,864.
In three-plus innings, Tanaka gave up six runs, nine hits (three homers), walked three and hit a batter.