Are already winners
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It took half the season, but Masahiro Tanaka is finally pitching like an ace.
The righthander fired seven strong innings of one-run ball Monday night at the Stadium to lead the Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays in the series opener.
Tanaka struck out eight and walked just one. He wiggled out of trouble in the fourth and fifth, stranding runners in scoring position in each inning, and didn’t allow a run until the seventh. It was Tanaka’s third straight quality start and fourth in his last five outings.
The Yankees scored two runs in the opening frame off Toronto righthander Marcus Stroman, who walked two and fanned three over five innings. With the bases loaded in the first, Stroman plunked Chase Headley before walking Jacoby Ellsbury. The Bombers then added insurance in the eighth off the Jays bullpen, which proved crucial.
Dellin Betances pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth before Aroldis Chapman labored in the ninth, surrendering two runs before finally closing out the contest on a sharp lineout to third.
The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Yankees (44-37).
The Yankees loaded the bases on Ryan Tepera to open the eighth inning on a single from Aaron Judge, a double from Gary Sanchez and a walk to Didi Gregorius. Headley then brought two runs home with a line-drive double to the right-field corner. Later, Gregorius and Headley came around to score when Ronald Torreyes hit a bouncing grounder back to the pitcher, and Tepera’s throw home got away from catcher Luke Maile.
Betances continued to struggle with his command in the top of the eighth inning, issuing a one-out walk to Josh Donaldson before falling behind 3-0 to Justin Smoak. But the towering righthander battled back and struck out Smoak with a 99-mph fastball before Sanchez gunned down Donaldson, who was attempting to swipe second.
Tanaka, who showcased sharp offspeed pitches and improved fastball command over another encouraging outing.
YANKEES VS. BLUE JAYS
Today, 1:05 p.m. CC Sabathia (7-2, 3.46) vs. J.A. Happ (2-5, 3.71), TV: YES