Replacement Level Yankees Weblog · Aug 28, 2019
Yankees.com: Tanaka outmatches Kikuchi in masterful gem
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The trademark that accelerated Masahiro Tanaka’s path to the Majors was his ownership of a devastating splitter, one that prompted batters across the globe to flail or make weak contact. As he continues to reinvent his arsenal, the slider has developed into a pitch worthy of attention on its own.
That was the case on Tuesday night, as Tanaka hurled seven masterful scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 7-0 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Tanaka leaned on the slider more than any other grip, mixing it with his fastball and the splitter to create a dominant three-pitch mix.