Recap: Teixeira Goes Yard As Tanaka Picks Up His 10th Win
By Ricky Keeler
Jun 11, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Safeco Field. (Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)
For New York Yankees’ fans, every game that Masahiro Tanaka pitches is always a treat to watch. Wednesday night was no different for the Yankees’ ace, as he picked up his tenth win of the season via a complete game in a 4-2 win for the Bronx Bombers over the Seattle Mariners. It was Tanaka’s second complete game of the season, his first since May 14th against the New York Mets.
The Mariners would make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning when Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer to center field that cut the deficit to 4-2. It was Cano’s third home run of the season, and his first at his new home, Safeco Field. Tanaka would respond after that homer by striking out the next two hitters, Kyle Seager and Logan Morrison, to end the game.
In his outing, Tanaka gave up just five hits, striking out 11 batters and walking one. This included a stretch in the fourth and the fifth innings when he struck out five Mariners’ batters in a row. This outing was the fourth time this season that Tanaka has struck out ten or more batters in a ballgame. He has now struck out 103 batters this season and won four consecutive decisions.
The Yankees’ offense was able to score some runs for their ace tonight, and it started in the third inning. Brian Roberts and Brett Gardner would lead off the inning with a pair of singles. Two batters later, Jacoby Ellsbury would extend his hitting streak to 15 games with a RBI single to center that scored Roberts to give the Yankees the lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, with Gardner on second and Ellsbury on first, Mark Teixeira would hit a three-run homer against Chris Young to give New York a 4-0 lead. It was Teixeira’s 11th home run on the season and first since June 3rd. Young would give up four runs on seven hits in five innings as he picked up the loss.
More history was made by Derek Jeter this evening. The captain went 2-for-4 on the night, with a pair of singles as well as two stolen bases to give him 351 stolen bases for his career. It was Jeter’s first game with two stolen bases since September 25th, 2009.
The Yankees will try to avenge Seattle’s sweep in the Bronx with a sweep of their own at Safeco Field on Thursday night at 10:10 PM ET on YES. Chase Whitley will go for his second win of his major league career when he faces Roenis Elias. Elias was dominant against the Yankees back on May 1st, striking out ten Yankees, while giving up two runs on six hits, in seven innings to pick up the win.