Tanaka helps extend Jays’ skid
One big development for the banged-up Yankees as they’ve limped toward the AllStar break the past few weeks: Masahiro Tanaka is back in top form.
Tanaka pitched seven sharp innings for his second straight win following a long slump, and the Yankees beat the skidding Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Monday night.
“I feel better out there and it’s definitely going in the right direction,” Tanaka said through a translator.
Hours after announcing they’ll both compete in the Home Run Derby next week, All-Star sluggers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez sparked New York’s offence. Consecutive singles by those Baby Bombers in the first helped the Yankees scratch out two runs against Marcus Stroman. Judge’s leadoff single and Sanchez’s double set up a four-run eighth that included Chase Headley’s two-run double off Ryan Tepera.
Headley was hit by a pitch to force home a run in the first and finished with three RBIs. Jacoby Ellsbury drew a basesloaded walk from Stroman (85), who grew up on Long Island about 55 miles from Yankee Stadium.
Last-place Toronto has dropped five straight and nine of 11.
“Just gone cold, you know?” manager John Gibbons said. “I still feel like we’re about to explode.”
Tanaka (7-7) turned in his third consecutive strong outing, a major positive for the second-place Yankees as they chase AL East-leading Boston. New York won for only the sixth time in 20 games.
Tanaka yielded one run and five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.
NATIONALS 3, METS
2
WASHINGTON — Ryan Raburn drove in the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Washington Nationals survived another bullpen collapse for a victory over the New York Mets.
BREWERS 8, ORIOLES 1
MILWAUKEE — Travis Shaw started the rout with a goahead single in a four-run first inning, then left after he was hit on a hand by a pitch during the Brewers’ win over the Orioles.
PHILLIES 4, PIRATES 0
PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Nola struck out eight in seven splendid innings, Freddy Galvis and Maikel Franco hit tworun homers and the Phillies beat the Pirates.
CARDINALS 14, MARLINS 6
ST. LOUIS — Rookie Luke Voit hit his first major league homer and drove in four runs, Tommy Pham reached base five times and the Cardinals beat the Marlins.
ROCKIES 5, REDS 3
DENVER — Rookie Raimel Tapia finished a single shy of the cycle, Charlie Blackmon lined a solo shot after it was announced he would participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby and the Rockies beat the Reds.
CARDINALS 14, MARLINS
6
ST. LOUIS — Rookie Luke Voit hit his first major league homer and drove in four runs, Tommy Pham reached base five times and the Cardinals beat the Marlins.
TWINS 9, ANGELS 5
MINNEAPOLIS — Max Kepler tied a career high with four hits, including a home run, Adalberto Mejia earned his third straight win and the Twins beat the Angels.