Skip to main content
Empire Writes Back
Fansided

New York Yankees Masahiro Tanaka Crushed In First Start vs Tampa Bay Rays

ByKenneth Teape|
Apr 2, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) reacts as he gives up a home run during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) reacts as he gives up a home run during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It was a rough start to the 2017 regular season for the New York Yankees and Masahiro Tanaka.

TheNew York Yankeescame into the regular season riding some momentum and with optimism. World Series pressure isn’t present, but there is excitement around the new-look Yankees. That momentum was stopped in its tracks on Opening Day.

The Yankees opened the 2017 regular season against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Things did not go as planned asMasahiro Tanakaand the Yankees were crushed in their first game of the regular season.

Tanaka came into the game with a ton of positives. He was on fire during Spring Training, giving up only one run in 24 innings. He gave up that many by the time he recorded his first out of the season.

More fromNew York Yankees

The first two batters in the Rays lineup,Corey Dickersonand Kevin Keirmaier got on base; Dickerson singled while Keirmaier doubled. Dickerson would score on a sac fly fromEvan Longoria, who was just getting started on the afternoon.

The next two batters would get on base as well.Brad Millerhad an infield single, while Tanaka would walkSteven SouzaJr. With the bases loaded,Logan Morrisoncame to the plate and hit a single, scoring Keirmaier and Miller.

Tanaka would getTim Beckhamto line out andMallex Smithto strikeout to end the inning, but the damage was already done. The Rays would finish the first inning up 3-0 and never look back. This was a shocking start to the season for Tanaka. Not only had he been great in Spring Training, he usually dominates to start games; last season he surrendered only four runs all season in the first inning.

The Yankees would get two of those runs back in the second inning. The bottom of the Yankees offense was productive all afternoon.Aaron Judgeripped a RBI double that scoredStarlin Castro.Ronald Torreyes, who is replacing the injuredDidi Gregorius, grounded out to second base after Judge to scoreChase Headley.

It would not be long until the Rays got those two runs back and extended the lead. Tanaka looked to be settling in as he retired four consecutive Rays. But, he walked Keirmaier to bring Longoria to the plate again and he made Tanaka pay. Longoria hit a two-run homer to left field to push the lead back to 5-2.

Tanaka would not last much longer after that. After getting a strikeout to start the third inning, Tanak surrendered another home run, this time by Morrison. Beckham would double next, which was followed by a bunt single from Smith. Beckham would score on the play asGary Sanchezcommitted an error throwing to first base.

Tanaka would retireDerek Norrisafter but was then taken out of the game. Tanaka’s final stat line for the afternoon was 2.2 innings, as he surrendered eight hits and two walks resulting in seven runs scored. He would also add three strikeouts.

Next: Yankees vs Rays: April 2nd-April 5th Series Preview

Tanaka just did not have it against the Rays. It was a surprising development as Tanaka had never lost to the Rays in his career and was coming in hot. While Tanaka’s performance was disappointing, the Yankees have to be encouraged by their bullpen.Tommy Layne,Adam Warren,Jonathan Holder, andChasen Shrevecombined to pitch 5.1 scoreless innings.

Add us as a preferred source onGoogle
Follow

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations