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New York Yankees Recap: Masahiro Tanaka Dominant As Yankees Secure First Series Win Of 2015

By Ricky Keeler |

On Saturday night, New York Yankees won their first series of the 2015 season. They were able to watch their ace, Masahiro Tanaka, get closer to the form he had at the first half of last season. In a game that was a pitcher’s duel for the first five innings, New York was able to finally get to Tampa starter Jake Odorizzi when Brian McCann hit a two-run triple off the right field wall in the sixth inning. McCann’s double sparked the Bronx Bombers to a 9-0 blowout win over the Rays.

Before the game, New York got some great news as Brett Gardner was back in the lineup for the first time since Monday after having a bone bruise on his wrist. In this game, Gardner would go 2-for-3 with a RBI, a walk, and two stolen bases. Carlos Beltran was given the night off as Chris Young got the start in right field.

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Tonight, Masahiro Tanaka made his third start of the season, but this was the first game where it seemed like he had all his pitches working. After giving up a leadoff single to David DeJesus, Tanaka did not allow a hit until the bottom of the sixth.

In that inning, Tampa led off with a double by Brandon Guyer. However, Tanaka would keep them off the board with two strikeouts and a groundout to second base by Steven Souza Jr. In seven innings of work, Tanaka gave up no runs on two hits, struck out eight, and walked no one on 85 pitches (58 strikes) for his first win of the season.

For the first five innings, New York only managed three hits, all singles, against Rays starter Jake Odorizzi, who was very impressive in his first two starts of the season. However, New York was able to crack the young right hander in the top of the sixth.

After a one out walk and stolen base by Gardner, his second of the game, Alex Rodriguez would draw the first of his two walks. With two on and two out, Brian McCann, who has been great against Odorizzi in his career (8-for-13, 2 HR’s) hit a ball to right field that bounced off the yellow line on top of the wall and rolled near the infield. McCann would get a triple on the play and New York would take a 2-0 lead. McCann was 3-for-3 with those two RBI’s and a hit-by-pitch on the night.

In the seventh inning, New York would break the game wide open. They would send 12 batters to the plate and score seven runs. Chase Headley would start the inning with a bloop single to center to get Odorizzi out of the game. In the loss, Odorizzi went six innings, gave up three runs on five hits, struck out nine, and walked two.

Once Odorizzi left the game, the Yankees would take advantage of the Rays bullpen. Gregorio Petit would drive in Headley on a sacrifice fly to score the inning’s first run. After a single from Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner would make the lead 4-0 with a RBI single to left field.

Later in the inning, with the score 5-0 after a Mark Teixiera sac fly, Chris Young would unload the bases against Grant Balfour with a grand slam to left field. It was Young’s third home run of the season and his third against Tampa over the last two seasons.

After Tanaka left the game, David Carpenter threw a scoreless eighth inning. Branden Pinder would come in to pitch the ninth. He would give up one hit, had one balk, walked two, and struck out one.

The New York Yankees (5-6) will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon against the Rays as they try to get their record to .500. You can catch the game at 1:10 PM ET on PIX11. Michael Pineda (1-0, 5.11 ERA) will get the start for the Yankees while the Tampa Bay Rays (6-6) will sent Matt Andriese (0-0, 3.86) to the mound.

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