The last time Masahiro Tanaka took a loss, Gary Sanchez was the Yankees’ catcher, Tyler Austin was the starting first baseman and the Yankees were a .500 team.
That was on April 17, and in the ensuing 16-plus weeks, Sanchez went on the disabled list, Austin was traded to Minnesota for pitcher Lance Lynn, the Yankees went on a 64-34 run and Tanaka went 7-0.
That unbeaten streak ended Friday night at Yankee Stadium. With three home runs from their rookie first baseman Ronald Guzman, the Texas Rangers pounded Tanaka and the Yankees, 12-7.
“You’re going to have ones like that every now and then,” Yankees Manager Aaron Boone said of Tanaka’s performance.