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Yankees game 155: McCann muscles up for Tanaka

Toronto Blue Jays 2 — New York Yankees 5

The return of Masahiro Tanaka featured franchise history.

In his first start since July 8, the Blue Jays greeted Masahiro Tanaka with a pair of singles from Jose Reyes and Jose Bautista. Tanaka would return to his typical work and minimized the damage of this inning. He would generate a double play from Edwin Encarnacion and struck out Dioner Navarro on a splitter for his first strikeout. A run scored on the double play.

The Yankees didn’t wait long to get the run back. After Drew Hutchison got the first two outs of the inning, Brian McCann would hit his 21st home run of the season into the short porch in right field. In the third inning, the Yankees would have no contact, striking out three times and walking two times. The Yankees would strikeout two more times in the fourth inning but the Yankees would take the lead in the fifth inning.

The Yankees would take the lead on a historic moment for the franchise.

To start the fifth inning, Brett Gardner would hit a deep home run to right field. His 17th home run of the season gave the Yankees the 2-1 lead. This home run was the 15,000th of the New York Yankees franchise. The Yankees are the first franchise to reach such an accomplishment. Congratulations to the historic franchise, for living up to the nickname, Bronx Bombers.

After the first inning, Masahiro Tanaka would retire 12 of the next 14 batters he faced. He would give up a double to Munenori Kawasaki but it was the only extra base hit he surrendered. In the sixth inning, he would give up a pair of singles around the first out of the inning but that would be the end of his return. Adam Warren would follow Tanaka with a pair of strikeouts to end the sixth inning.

In 5.1 innings, Masahiro Tanaka allowed one run on five hits while walking none and striking out four. He threw 70 pitches and threw 48 of them for strikes. Three of his four strikeouts came on the splitter.

In the seventh inning, against reliever Todd Redmond, Brett Gardner got his second hit of the game, a double to right field. Derek Jeter would follow with a double of his own, pulled into the left field corner, scoring Gardner. Derek Jeter is the first Yankee 40 years old or older to have four straight multi-hit games. Have a homestand, Captain. Daniel Norris would come in to pitch to Brian McCann but McCann would give him a rude welcome to the game. After Derek Jeter stole third base uncontested, McCann hit his second home run of the game. The 22nd home run of the season for McCann gave the Yankees a four-run lead.

After a scoreless seventh inning by Adam Warren, who struck out three in his 1.2 innings, Dellin Betances took over in the eighth inning. After getting the first out, Chris Young hit a single. Betances would strike out Bautista but Reyes stole two bases over the course of this at-bat and Encarnacion’s. The Blue Jays would get their second run of the game on a long single to right field by Encarnacion. David Robertson would finish off the ninth inning for his 38th save of the season and completed a successful return for Masahiro Tanaka.

 

Win – Masahiro Tanaka (13-4)

Loss – Drew Hutchison (10-13)

Save – David Robertson (38)

 

Notables

Blue Jays

*Jose Reyes – 3 for 4, 2 R

*Edwin Encarnacion – 2 for 4, RBI (91)

Yankees

*Brian McCann – 2 for 3, 2 R, BB, 2 HR (22; Solo & 2-Run) in the 1st & 7th, 3 RBI (71)

*Brett Gardner – 2 for 5, 2 R. 2B, Solo Home Run (17) in the 5th, RBI (58)

 

Current Yankees Record: 80-75