Masahiro Tanaka Dominates Yusei Kikuchi As New York Beats Seattle

In his start against Oakland on August 22nd Japanese right -hander Masahiro Tanaka gave up all the runs while only lasting six innings in a 5-3 New York loss.

Well, that outing became a distant memory after his start in Seattle against rookie Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi.

The trademark that accelerated Masahiro Tanaka's path to the Majors was his ownership of a devastating splitter, one that prompted batters across the globe to flail or make weak contact. As he continues to reinvent his arsenal, the slider has developed into a pitch worthy of attention on its own. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

That was the case on Tuesday night, as Tanaka hurled seven masterful scoreless innings in the Yankees' 7-0 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Tanaka leaned on the slider more than any other grip, mixing it with his fastball and the splitter to create a dominant three-pitch mix. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

"I think I had pretty good command on it. That was working for me today," Tanaka said through a translator. "I'm not sure if it actually became better, but I felt my slider has always been pretty consistent going back to last year." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

Supported early by Aaron Judge's 100th career home run, Tanaka outdueled Yusei Kikuchi in a matchup of Japanese starters. Kikuchi and Tanaka had conversed prior to Monday's series opener, when Kikuchi – 2 1/2 years Tanaka's junior – reflected about witnessing Tanaka's success as a high schooler in the Koshien tournament.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

The words were appreciated, but that feels like a lifetime ago to Tanaka, whose attention is focused on the present as he navigates his sixth season with the Yankees. Bouncing back from a troubled start against the Athletics, Tanaka improved to 8-0 in 10 career starts against the Mariners, scattering three hits in a 106-pitch effort. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

"That was huge. That was a big performance," Judge said. "He attacked guys and even when he got behind, he was able to work that slider in there, that splitter, and get back in the count. When he's able to do that, he's dangerous." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

Of those pitches, 42 were sliders, generating eight swinging strikes, 12 called strikes and seven foul balls. Yankees manager Aaron Boone raved about Tanaka's increasing confidence in the slider. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

"There have been a number of starts, especially at the start of the year, where that split was inconsistent for him," Boone said. "That was the secondary he had to lean on. He was forced to be really strong with it. I think it’s been a pitch that has continued to improve for him." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

Tanaka held Seattle hitless until the fifth inning, when Kyle Seager opened the frame with a double to right field, then Tanaka kept the shutout going in a one-walk, seven-strikeout gem. His 1.89 lifetime ERA against the Mariners is his lowest against any club that he has made at least three starts against.

"He doesn’t throw many fastballs for strikes," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “With young hitters and an aggressive team like we are, you get into those fastball counts and he has the ability to take a little off and go to the slider or split-finger. He’s got a ton of experience and he knows how to pitch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

While Kikuchi had been amped for the start, having referred to Tanaka as one of his baseball idols, Judge hung a pair of runs on the rookie lefty almost instantly. With DJ LeMahieu aboard, Judge mashed a 462-foot rocket off the batter's eye in dead center field for a two-run homer. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

Judge's 100th homer came in his 371st career game. Only Ryan Howard (325 games) and the Yanks’ Gary Sanchez (355 games) did it faster. Brett Gardner added a three-run homer in the third inning off Kikuchi, who was charged with five runs and eight hits over four innings.

"First and foremost, getting some early runs from our offense, I think that helped," Tanaka said.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

Tanaka's strong effort placed the Yankees in position to notch a winning road trip if they complete a sweep of the Mariners on Wednesday, and that would have appeared to be a long shot following the three-game sweep in Oakland last week. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

New York rebounded with two wins in three games against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, a series that might have ended with a Yankees sweep if not for a late, controversial call in the middle game of the set. Nevertheless, the ideal formula of strong pitching and big blasts worked to perfection in this one. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

"When we haven’t played well in short stretches, we’ve done a good job of turning the page, getting things going in the right direction," Gardner said. "That all kind of starts with Masahiro and what he did tonight. It's really fun to watch him pitch." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-pitches-gem-vs-yusei-kikuchi

Meanwhile, Yusei Kikuchi who watched Masahiro Tanaka growing up in his home country or with New York when he got to the big leagues was tagged with the loss as Seattle was shutout.

For Yusei Kikuchi, a long-awaited matchup with Masahiro Tanaka didn’t last long. Nor did the positive buzz from Kikuchi's first shutout nine days earlier. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

Kikuchi returned to his first-season struggles with the Mariners as the Yankees jumped on him for a pair of early home runs and rolled to a 7-0 victory Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park. The 28-year-old rookie lasted just four innings, allowing eight hits and five runs, as he fell to 5-9 with a 5.36 ERA. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

In the wake of his two-hit shutout of the Blue Jays in his previous outing, it was a double dose of disappointment for Kikuchi. In a game being televised live back in his homeland of Japan, Kikuchi gave up a two-run blast to Aaron Judge in the first and a three-run shot by Brett Gardner in the third, while Tanaka breezed through seven scoreless innings on just three hits. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

“I’m not directly facing Mr. Tanaka on the other side, I’m facing the Yankees,” Kikuchi said through translator Justin Novak. “I know they’re a really good lineup, so I have to get better at relaxing and going out there and just throwing.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

The long ball has been an issue for Kikuchi. His 33 home runs allowed is tied with Justin Verlander for the second-most in the Majors, behind only the 34 of former teammate Mike Leake. But Leake has pitched 158 1/3 innings for the Mariners and D-backs and Verlander is at 184 innings for the Astros, while Kikuchi is at 139 1/3 innings in 27 starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

Judge’s homer was a monstrous 462-footer off the batter’s eye in center field off a first-pitch, 92-mph fastball right down the pipe. Gardner drove an elevated 2-0 fastball over the right-field fence two innings later. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

“My stuff felt really good,” Kikuchi said. “The first two runs early kind of hurt and I think I just tried to be a little too fine, trying to hit the edges, and I got into bad counts after that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

Kikuchi walked three and needed 95 pitches just to get through the four frames as the patient Yankees worked deep into counts, a far different story than his 96-pitch gem against the aggressive young Blue Jays in is previous start. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

“Yusei wasn’t as sharp certainly as we saw him last time out,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “The command of his pitches -- and I sound like a broken record -- but that really is what it’s all about with him. The stuff is pretty consistent, fastball-wise, but it has to be located.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

While the Mariners are counting on Kikuchi continuing to progress this first season in the Majors, Servais minimized the idea that this was a significant setback. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

“I don’t want to read too much into it,” he said. “Coming off a really good outing last time, this is a really good hitting ballclub. There’s a reason they hit a lot of home runs and are scoring the runs and the record they have. I don’t want to get too caught up in it. He’ll get the ball again in five days and go from there.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

Meanwhile, Seattle didn’t manage a hit off Tanaka until Kyle Seager’s leadoff double in the fifth as the 30-year-old right-hander improved to 10-7 with a 4.47 ERA, as well as 8-0 in his career vs. Seattle. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

“He doesn’t throw many fastballs for strikes,” said Servais. “That’s what he doesn’t do. With young hitters and an aggressive team like we are, you get into those fastball counts and he has the ability to take a little off and go to the slider or split-finger. He’s got a ton of experience and he knows how to pitch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

Seager continued his hot August as he’s batting .338 (26-for-77) with eight doubles, eight homers and 23 RBIs in 22 games this month.”according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

The Mariners are 1-5 against the Yankees this season -- the lone win coming in a strong outing by Kikuchi in New York back in May -- and 5-20 against the Bombers in Seattle since 2012. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yusei-kikuchi-struggles-vs-masahiro-tanaka-yankees

New York has already won the series so on Wednesday afternoon they will go for the sweep when James Paxton will face his former team as well as the pitcher he was traded for in Justus Sheffield at Safeco Field while Seattle will look to salvage a game out of the series.