Hiro beats M’s in dominant return

SEATTLE — If there were any questions about Masahiro Tanaka’s ability to dominate, he answered them Wednesday.

Tanaka fired seven brilliant innings against the Mariners, leading the Yankees to a 3-1 victory and a three-game sweep at Safeco Field. “That’s probably as good stuff as he’s had all year,” Joe Girardi said.

Tanaka allowed one run on three hits, striking out nine without issuing a walk. He threw only 78 pitches, showing great efficiency, tremendous command — and a fastball that got as high as 96 mph — in his first start since April 23.

“I would have to agree, I think it was the best outing I’ve had this year so far,” Tanaka said through a translator. “I think all my pitches’ command was good.”

Mark Teixeira and Garrett Jones hit home runs to provide the run support for Tanaka, who took care of the rest.

Chris Capuano and Andrew Miller put a scare into the Yankees in the eighth, but Miller worked out of a bases-loaded jam before pitching the ninth for his 17th

save. After losing three of four to Oakland, the Yankees now head home with a winning record on their West Coast swing, returning to the Bronx with sole possession of first place in the AL East.

“It didn’t start the way we wanted, but Oakland played well; they just beat us (three out of four),” Teixeira said. “We came here,

facing some pretty good pitchers, and did our jobs and scored some runs.”

The questions about Tanaka’s ability to stay healthy will persist as long as he’s pitching with a small

tear in his elbow ligament, but the righthander — who missed the past five weeks with wrist tendinitis and a mild forearm strain — proved Wednesday that he can still control an opposing team with the best of them.

“He was incredible; everything was for strikes,” said John Ryan Murphy, who replaced Brian McCann behind the plate in the second inning after McCann exited with foot pain. “He threw all of his pitches. The thing that he does so well is on both sides of the plate, the ball can go sideways both ways and go straight down. Everything was working today.”

Knowing he had only 80-85 pitches to work with, Tanaka didn’t fool around. He retired Seattle in order in six of his seven frames, never needing more than 11 pitches in any of them. His one hiccup came in the third after Teixiera had given him a 1-0 lead with a solo shot off Taijuan Walker in the top of the inning.

Brad Miller tripled and Dustin Ackley doubled, tying the game. Ramon Flores saved a run by throwing Ackley out at the plate on Logan Morrison’s single, but Tanaka took it from there, retiring the next 13 batters he faced.

Jones, whose three-run home run in the 11th inning lifted the Yankees to a win on Tuesday night, broke the tie in the fourth with a towering two-run homer off Walker.

“I’m just trying to contribute,” Jones said. “I’ve been feeling good at the plate, so I’m just trying to stay relaxed and let it fly.”

Tanaka carried the two-run lead through seven, but things got interesting once he departed. Capuano, demoted to the bullpen to open a rotation spot for Tanaka, started the eighth as Dellin Betances was unavailable. Capuano gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Justin Ruggiano, then struck out Miller.

After Seattle sent up Rickie Weeks to hit for Ackley, Girardi brought Andrew Miller in for a five-out save. The lefty hit Weeks with a 1-2 pitch, then walked Mike Zunino on four pitches to load the bases. Miller fell behind Morrison, 3-0, but fought back to strike him out before getting Austin Jackson on a routine grounder, stranding the bases loaded before pitching a scoreless ninth to seal the win.

“To get Morrison after a 3-0 count was huge,” Miller said. “I think they certainly thought they had a chance, and to squash it there was important.”