NEW YORK -- In the much anticipated showdown of Japanese countrymen Masahiro Tanaka and Shohei Ohtani, the Yankees' right-hander came out on top Sunday afternoon in The Bronx.
In their first meeting since playing against each other in Japan in 2013, Ohtani worked a 3-2 count before whiffing on a low-and-away, 85.6-mph splitter in the first inning.
After waiting more than an hour between plate appearances, Ohtani drew a walk on five pitches in the fourth inning.
In the sixth, Tanaka jumped ahead on a 1-2 count before winning their final battle of the afternoon, striking out Ohtani with an 88.