Masahiro Tanaka gets rocked in final start, but elbow is healthy
Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka got pounded for seven runs in 1 2/3 innings on Saturday, but his elbow is healthy.
By
Mike Axisa
•
1 min read
Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka missed more than three months (partially torn elbow ligament) before returning to the rotation last week, limiting the Blue Jays to one run in 5 1/3 innings while being held to a strict 70-75 pitch limit.
Tanaka made his second start off the disabled list and final start of the season Saturday afternoon, and it did not go well. That's an understatement, really. Here's his pitching line against the Red Sox (box score):
Ouch. Tanaka's defense didn't help, but still, seven hits and two walks while only recording five outs is ugly. He went from a 2.47 ERA to a 2.77 ERA in one afternoon.
Needless to say, any time a pitcher gets roughed up to that degree so soon after coming off the disabled list, there's concern he either re-injured himself or is still injured. Manager Joe Girardi confirmed after the game that Tanaka is healthy though:
Girardi said Tanaka had no arm problems despite getting KO'd in second inning. "He just had trouble with his command."
— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) September 27, 2014
Just a (really) bad day, I guess. It happens to every pitcher at some point.
Both Tanaka and the Yankees said it was important to test his elbow before the end of the season, which is why he rejoined the rotation. The rehab process was complete and the ligament wasn't going to get any stronger by shutting him down.
As you can see, the 25-year-old Tanaka went 13-7 with a 2.77 ERA in his first MLB season. He struck out 141 and walked 21 in 20 starts and 136 1/3 innings.
