Game 39 Wrap-Up: NYY 4 NYM 0

(Courtesy of Getty Images)

Maybe it's just me, but it feels like Masahiro Tanaka has had to make a lot of important starts lately, as important as early regular season starts can be, that is.  He had another one on his hands last night as the Yankees headed over to Flushing for the first of 2 "road" games against the Mets as losers of 4 straight and falling apart at the seams thanks to a big rash of injuries.  The Yanks needed a big time effort from him to help get things going in the right direction again, and boy did he deliver.

Game Notes:

- The Mets got a single against Tanaka with 1 out in the bottom of the 1st.  It was the last baserunner they'd have until the 5th.  Tanaka was really dealing right from the start and the Met hitters had no answer.

- The Yankees slowly started to build their lead in the 2nd, mainly thanks to a terrible decision by Eric Young Jr. to dive for a ball that he missed and turned into a Brian Roberts RBI triple.

- Yangervis Solarte (best hitter on the team) made it 2-0 off Rafael Montero by punishing a 3-1 fastball, the fifth straight he'd seen in the at-bat, for a solo home run in the 4th.  Mark Teixeira led off the 6th with a solo shot of his own to make it 3-0.

- Tanaka only needed the 1.  A single in the 5th was eliminated by a caught stealing, he stranded a double in the 6th, and just for fun he struck out the side in the 7th on 3 different pitches to each batter.

- The last run came as a result of Brett Gardner's speed on the basepaths.  He singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Derek Jeter IF single.

- Tanaka finished what he started with a scoreless 9th, ending his first career Major League complete game in style.  He even got his first career hit in the previous half-inning.  Splendid.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Tanaka: 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K.  114 pitches, 76 strikes, 22 swinging strikes.  Had everything working and he pitched like it, mixing all his pitches at all different times and completely baffling the Mets hitters.  They never had a chance.  The rest of the rotation might be shot, but Tanaka is the real deal.

- Solarte: 1-3, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K.  Look who's hitting for power now??

Oh Nos:

- Jacoby Ellsbury: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 LOB.  The cold streak continues.

Next Up:

From one MLB debut to another, this time on both teams' sides.  Chase Whitley is set to make his debut for the Yanks tonight while Jacob DeGrom does the same for the Mets in the Subway Series finale.