Masahiro Tanaka Phenomenal As New York Earns Split In Toronto
After losing two straight games in Toronto it was the Japanese right -hander who helped New York earn a split in the four game series.
Tanaka scattered three hits over eight-plus innings before Aroldis Chapman engaged in an epic 13-pitch battle with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., nailing down the save as the Yankees snapped their two-game slide with a 1-0 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday at Rogers Centre. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
The key was to be consistent," Tanaka said through a translator. "That wasn’t really the case for the previous games. I felt like I was able to be pretty consistent." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
Gio Urshela and Brett Gardner stroked back-to-back doubles off Trent Thornton in the fifth inning to produce the only run of the game, and if not for a questionable decision by the official scorer, Tanaka might have been prompting no-hitter alerts on smartphones across the globe. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
The first batter that Tanaka faced reached base, as Bo Bichette’s chopper was briefly juggled by the third baseman Urshela. Bichette beat Urshela’s throw to first base and was credited with a single. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
That proved notable when Tanaka did not permit another hit through seven innings, working from the stretch only after DJ LeMahieu bobbled a ball that permitted Justin Smoak to reach in the second inning. Otherwise, Tanaka faced one batter over the minimum through eight frames. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
"It was just what the doctor ordered," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Masa came out and was really pitch-efficient, especially in the middle innings. I thought he was really cruising, and we needed it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
New York was primed to add more support in the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but Thornton induced Urshela to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Tanaka didn't flinch, leaning on his slider heavily. He threw it 36 times, nine of which resulted in outs and eight in swings and misses. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
"I didn’t actually plan on throwing a lot of sliders going into the game," Tanaka said. "It was more of having a good feel of it, and also looking at the hitters and seeing what they are trying to do. It’s a matter of trying to keep them off-balance." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
Having tinkered with his splitter grip at the suggestion of pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Tanaka used his trademark offering 28 times, producing eight outs. He retired 17 consecutive Jays before Smoak took the official scorer off the hook with a clean single to open the eighth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
“He was vintage Tanaka today, he was good,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “We’ve been swinging the bat well. All of his pitches were down in the zone. We were off-balance the whole day." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
Tanaka's effort came at a good time for the Yanks, who have used their bullpen heavily of late and will lean on those arms for a doubleheader on Monday against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
"He just stayed on top of his stuff all day," catcher Austin Romine said. "He executed a good amount of pitches. It was nice to see. It was nice to get some depth from the guy when we definitely needed it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
Entrusted to begin the ninth, Tanaka's 94-pitch effort came to an end when Brandon Drury led off with a clean single to left field. That prompted Boone to emerge from the dugout, summoning Chapman to finish off the Yanks' sixth shutout of the season (and first since July 12 vs. Toronto). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
It didn't come easily, as Guerrero fouled off seven of the 13 pitches he saw before hitting into a double play. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
"It was solely my call to send [Tanaka] back out there, mostly because I felt really good about where he was," Boone said. "I thought he was still really sharp, and even when I took him out of the game, the hit to Drury was just a ball that found a hole. It was kind of how he pitched all game, a little bit off the barrel." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays
Meanwhile Toronto had a setback in the finale.
In what has been an up-and-down season for rookie Blue Jays hurler Trent Thornton, his performance in Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees at Rogers Centre was among the highlights. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
In Toronto’s 1-0 loss to New York, the 25-year-old right-hander was perfect for four innings before allowing back-to-back doubles in the fifth, but he stranded runners at third base in both of his last two frames. Thornton completed six innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking one batter, hitting another and striking out six. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
“What helped him with the success this time around was in the counts [we were behind], we made our pitches, we didn’t walk them,” catcher Reese McGuire said. “We made a pitch right there and got a ball in play, and more times than not, it was either a popup or a ground ball. When he was getting ahead, that’s what we wanted, but then when he fell behind, it was also in those moments he made his pitches.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
After failing to get through four innings in his most recent start versus the Rays on Tuesday, the young hurler had everything working against the American League East leaders, using a good mix of his four-seam and two-seam fastballs, to go with a cutter he went to more than usual, along with his splitter and slider. He entered the matchup with a 7.85 ERA in 47 innings against divisional opponents and made a marked improvement. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
“The cutter was definitely a big pitch for me today,” Thornton said. “It was kind of coming out of the fastball tunnel and it was biting at the end. I thought Reese did a great job back there, called a great game. There are a lot of positives to take out of that.””according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
Added McGuire: “Mixing the two-seamer in there makes his four-seam better, and then the cutter off of the two-seamer or the four-seamer is always a great go-to pitch in any count. And he really had everything working for him, so we just mixed it up.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
The six strikeouts for the freshman pitcher moved Thornton into sole possession of second place among all rookies, with 110 on the season. The 6-foot, 195-pound hurler is behind only San Diego’s Chris Paddack, who has fanned 115 batters this year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
“He was throwing more strikes and he was commanding the zone, that was the key,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “Against a great lineup, he was really good. And McGuire does a great job behind the plate, framing pitches and stuff, he did a good job.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
Sunday’s start was Thornton’s second since returning from a stint on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, working in a five-man rotation for the first time in his professional career this season. It was an encouraging sign for the future of a young club with a strong offensive core and question marks surrounding its staff. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
“There’s a little of everything to take into consideration, when your whole career in the Minor Leagues, especially with the Astros, we were on a six-man rotation, we were piggybacking,” Thornton said. “For me, my first year in the big leagues is the first time I’ve ever been in a five-man rotation. It’s going to take a little bit of adjusting. But any baseball player’s got to make adjustments on a day-to-day basis, so it’s just part of the game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
Despite Thornton’s impressive efforts, Masahiro Tanaka was even better for the visitors, shutting out the Blue Jays for eight-plus innings while allowing just three hits. One of them was to Bo Bichette -- who had two singles in the matchup -- extending the 21-year-old infielder’s career-opening on-base streak to 14 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start
“We played a really tough game today,” Thornton said. “We were in every at-bat until the very last one. Unfortunately we lost today, but there are a lot of positive things to take out of that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/trent-thornton-holds-yankees-to-one-run-in-solid-start