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(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

It’s Tanaka Time! Yankees @ Blue Jays (4/4/14)

(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

The time is finally here. After all the talking, speculating and hypothesizing, Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound for his MLB debut. The star from Japan makes his first start in Canada for America’s baseball league against a Canadian American baseball league team. Any questions? Tanaka’s best pitch is a splitter that scouts continue to rave about and rate as world class. His arsenal also includes two fastballs, curve, slider and changeup. “I feel honored that I’m getting this sort of attention,” Tanaka said through an interpreter. “For me, it’s just going up on the mound and trying to get outs.” He will be up against Dustin McGowan, who hasn’t started in the Majors since 2011.

McGowan is set to make his first big league start since September 26, 2011. He was injured for all of 2012 and spent last season in the bullpen, but after a strong spring he has been given another chance in the rotation. “I’m going to be jacked up. I’m excited,” McGowan said. “I keep thinking about it every day and I know when that day gets here it’s going to be special, and I’m going to be ready for it. I’ll have to calm myself down but it’s good to have it pumping sometimes, gives you a little bit extra sometimes.”

Last night Yankees fans, and David Robertson, began the post Mariano era. Robertson pitched a perfect ninth as the Yankees got their first win of the season. He kept the ball from the save, the ninth of his career, but said that it did not feel overly significant. “I felt like I got three outs and the game was over,” Robertson said. “It was the same thing. I try to treat it just like it’s the eighth inning; get three outs, and it used to be hand the ball to Mo. Now I guess it’s turn around and high five.”

 

Notes on the game

Derek Jeter is just one hit away from tying Paul Molitor (3,319) for 8th place on the all time list and 4th place on the AL all time list.

Alfonso Soriano is one homerun away from tying Duke Snider (407) for 50th on the all time list.

In his fisrt Major League start Thrusday, Yangervis Solarte became the first Yankee to have at least three hits and an RBI in one of his first two career games since Oscar Azocar in 1990. He was 3-3 with a walk, double, RBI and two runs scored.

 

First pitch at 7:10 PM on Yes