Facing former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles teammate Tanaka for the first time since their five years together in Japan's Nippon Professional League, Iwakuma couldn't quite match his longtime friend's outing as Tanaka held Seattle to three runs (two earned) on six hits in his own seven-frame start.
Iwakuma downplayed the matchup beforehand, but acknowledged afterward it was a special game.
"It's very exciting to face your ex-teammate," Iwakuma said through interpreter Antony Suzuki. "Just watching him in general, he was pitching with composure and he kept the ball down.