Tanaka Loss

May 20, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka throws a pitch in the rain against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Masahiro Tanaka was bound to lose. The thing is, the Yankees are so dependent on winning Tanaka’s starts because of the injuries in the rotation. Nonetheless, Tanaka lost his first start since August of 2012 as the Yankees fell to the Cubs by a score of 6-1.

The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the third. John Baker led off with a single. Jason Hammel moved him to second with a sac bunt and Baker moved to third on a wild pitch. Emilio Bonifacio would drive in Baker with a single. The Cubs added to it in the fourth. Luis Valbuena doubled and went to third on a groundout. Mike Olt drove him home with a single.

The Yanks would get their lone run in the sixth. Brett Gardner led of with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on Mark Teixeira‘s single.

The Cubs came right back in the bottom half. Valbuena and Nate Schierholtz singled. Olt and Baker would follow with sac flies.

The Cubs tacked on two more runs of the Yankee bullpen. Preston Claiborne came in and gave up a lead off triple to Bonifacio. After a groundout, Anthony Rizzo was intentionally walked. Starlin Castro singled in a run to knock out Claiborne. In came Matt Thornton. A fielder’s choice would make it first and third. Schierholtz was hit by a pitch and Olt was walked to force in a run.

The series wraps up tomorrow at 2:20ET. Chase Whitley will face Jeff Samardzija.