ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It took three starts, a cautious protocol and two months of ceaseless questions about the health of his right elbow, but the Masahiro Tanaka the Yankees have anxiously been hoping for was unveiled here Saturday night.
Tanaka elicited puzzled looks and uncomfortable swings from Tampa Bay batters and a sigh of relief from the Yankees after his masterful performance in a 9-0 victory over the Rays.
Tanaka did not walk a batter, struck out eight and threw 85 pitches — the last of which shattered the bat of Desmond Jennings.