Masahiro Tanaka Gets Obliterated By Boston At Fenway
There are times when a pitcher has a rough night but Japanese right -hander Masahiro Tanaka had a really rough night in the opening game of New York’s opening game of their four game series against their American League rival at Fenway Park.
As the score grew lopsided in a lengthy first inning, Masahiro Tanaka never looked toward the third-base dugout for assistance, nor would the Yankees have expected him to. Entering the rivalry weekend backed by a taxed bullpen, his assignment was clear: Soak up as many outs as possible, hopefully saving the staff for the next few days. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
That was why Tanaka was still on the mound in the fourth inning, en route to becoming the first Yankees pitcher in nearly a century to permit 12 earned runs. In an effort that bore resemblance to his abbreviated start in London, Tanaka watched a carousel of Red Sox race around the basepaths in the Yanks' 19-3 loss on Thursday at Fenway Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
"There is a lot of disappointment," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "You understand where the situation of the pitching staff is. We've been relying a lot on the relievers. You go into the game wanting to go long and give them a bit of a break, but it actually turned the other way around. A lot of disappointment there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
With the local fan base revved up by Didi Gregorius' comment that the Yankees would like to "bury the Red Sox" this weekend, Boston (57-47) trimmed its deficit in the American League East to 10 games behind the division-leading Yanks (66-36). The Rays (58-47) remain in second place, 9 1/2 games back. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
"It's good to win the first against these guys, because obviously they came in with a mindset," said Xander Bogaerts, who homered twice and drove in four runs in a four-hit performance. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Boston sent 11 men to the plate in the first inning, scoring seven runs off Tanaka, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning against the Red Sox in the London Series on June 29. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
He made a lot of mistakes in the heart of the plate," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "He didn't really have his split. Even his fastball-slider combination, which has been so good for him, wasn't as crisp and sharp." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Bogaerts hit a three-run blast, followed by two-run doubles off the bats of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts. Rafael Devers homered in a five-run fourth off Tanaka, who joined Carl Mays (1929) as the only Bombers hurlers to get smacked for a dozen earned runs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
"I felt like the stuff wasn't bad," Tanaka said. "The pitches weren't bad, but it ended up being what it ended up to be. I need to look at some stuff and figure it out." according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Tanaka's effort completed a subpar turn for the Yanks' rotation, with every starter having permitted at least six runs over the last five games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Beginning with James Paxton's loss to the Rockies on Sunday, Bombers starters have been charged with 38 hits and 40 runs (36 earned) over 17 2/3 innings, an 18.34 ERA. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
"It's been one hiccup for every one of the guys," Boone said. "That it's come in succession makes it difficult. We've just got to dig in and see where we can make little improvements and expect the next time out each guy will be sharp." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Rick Porcello overcame a bumpy second inning to complete six innings, holding the Yankees to three runs and six hits. Luke Voit had three hits and Kyle Higashioka reached the top of the Green Monster in the fifth inning for a solo homer, his first of the year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Beginning with James Paxton's loss to the Rockies on Sunday, Bombers starters have been charged with 38 hits and 40 runs (36 earned) over 17 2/3 innings, an 18.34 ERA. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
"It's been one hiccup for every one of the guys," Boone said. "That it's come in succession makes it difficult. We've just got to dig in and see where we can make little improvements and expect the next time out each guy will be sharp." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
"We had the bases loaded [in the second inning] and it was 7-2," Voit said. "I definitely thought we had a chance. That's what makes this team so great. It didn't go our way tonight." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Stephen Tarpley was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after permitting four runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief, with an outfielder -- possibly Clint Frazier or Cameron Maybin -- expected to be en route. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
Luis Cessa pitched a pair of scoreless innings and catcher Austin Romine took the mound for the ninth, surrendering homers to Sandy Leon and Bogaerts. The 19 runs are the most that the Yanks have allowed to the Red Sox since 1913. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-struggles-against-red-sox
With the loss, New York drops to 66-36 on the season.
Meanwhile New York’s American League East rival was on the other end of the spectrum.
It took almost four months on the baseball calendar for the Yankees to finally play a game at Fenway Park this season. The Red Sox had been waiting for it, and when the moment got here, they out-savaged their rivals with a 19-3 thumping in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
Instead of playing the role of gracious hosts, the defending World Series champions jumped all over the Yankees from the outset, belting Masahiro Tanaka around for seven runs in the first, and then five more in the fourth, at which point Yanks manager Aaron Boone finally had no choice but to pull him and go to his recently overworked bullpen. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
It was Boone last week who heatedly called his hitters "savages" during a rant at a home-plate umpire that went viral. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
Due to the current state of the standings -- the Red Sox trail the Yankees by 10 games in the American League East even after this rout -- it's easy to overlook that Boston can hit with anyone, including the savages. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
In fact, in the course of Thursday's game, the Red Sox overtook the Yankees for the Majors lead in runs scored. The 19 runs were the most the Sox have scored in a game against the Yanks. It was also a season high against any opponent. So, too, were Boston's 23 hits. The margin of victory was the highest in any game against New York at Fenway, equaling a 17-1 drubbing on July 15, 2005. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
"We've been rolling for a while now offensively," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "We feel that we can go toe to toe with whoever, [any] other offenses. We're leading the big leagues in runs scored and for two months we were talking about how inconsistent we were, but we feel good about it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
Xander Bogaerts (two homers, four runs, four RBIs) got the party started by launching a titanic three-run homer to left that soared over the Monster Seats and onto Lansdowne Street. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
In terms of both exit velocity (112.1 mph) and projected distance (451 feet), it was the longest homer for Bogaerts since the start of Statcast in 2015. In this breakout year for Bogaerts, he now has 23 homers, equaling the career high he set in '18. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
Speaking of breakout years, it was Rafael Devers who got the five-run eruption started in the fourth when he smoked a leadoff shot off a sign beyond the Monster Seats. The opposite-field blast, No. 21 on the season, traveled a projected distance of 437 feet. As Dennis Eckersley said on NESN, it looked like a right-handed-hitting slugger pulling the ball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
A lot of fun," said leadoff man Mookie Betts, who had two hits, both of them coming in the first inning. "It's one of those things where one hit leads to another and leads to another. It's contagious at that point. Just doing what I can to help. Trying to get on base for Devers and Bogey. Seems like I score every time." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
Early on, it looked like the teams might match their wild slugfest from London on June 29, when they each scored six runs in the first inning. And it was the same two starting pitchers in this one -- Rick Porcello against Tanaka. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
When Porcello labored through a 47-pitch second inning, it was hard to imagine he would be around much longer. But after getting out of that inning by inducing Aaron Judge into a flyout to deep center rather than a grand slam that would have made it a one-run game, the veteran righty settled down and turned in a quality start. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
In fact, this was Porcello's best outing in over a month, as he ended a five-start slump by limiting the Yankees to six hits and three runs over six innings while walking one and striking out five. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
"Usually you have one or two innings where your back's against the wall and you've got to make pitches, and I haven't been able to make pitches in those situations [lately]," said Porcello. "I'm continuously missing over the plate, and that's what's been beating me. Today, honestly, the lead we had in the second inning, the way it was building, I felt like we did a good job of limiting the damage. Would have loved to give up no home runs, but when our offense is swinging the bats the way we are, you've just got to control it the best you can." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
For the Red Sox -- who are 1 1/2 games behind the Athletics in the race for the second AL Wild Card spot -- to get to October, they need to start pitching like they are capable of. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
This is why Porcello's in-game turnaround was every bit as important as the impressive eruption by the offense. This made it five straight games a Boston starter has gone six innings or more. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
"It starts with those guys on the mound, and this is the fifth one [in a row] that we go six-plus," said Cora. "That's great. Those guys do what they usually do, they're going to put us in a good spot and we know we can score runs." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
No matter how it happened, the Sox badly needed to beat the Yanks to start this extended weekend series. Coming in, New York had won six of the first seven head-to-head encounters, five of them in the Bronx and two of them across the pond in London. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
This was the latest the Yankees had arrived in Boston since the strike-shortened 1981 season. The Red Sox still have three more games this weekend, then four in New York next weekend and another four-game set at Fenway from Sept. 6-9. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
"This next week, two weeks is huge for us," said Porcello. "So to be able to get this win tonight, the way our offense is swinging the bats, it sets us up well for the rest of the series." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-score-7-runs-in-first-inning
The two American League East rivals will play game two of their four game series on Friday night where New York will look to bounce back from getting blown out by Boston on Thursday night while Boston will look to win yet another game in the series at Fenway Park.