BOSTON MASA-CRE!
Tanaka shelled as Red Sox pound Yanks at Fenway
BOSTON — If it wasn’t clear after three games in Minnesota, the message was hammered home in historic fashion Thursday night at Fenway. The Yankees need at least one starting pitcher before next week’s trade deadline.
Masahiro Tanaka, was pummeled by the Red Sox Thursday in a career-worst night as Boston beat up the Yankees, 19-3, in the first of a four-game series.
It was the most runs the Yankees have ever allowed to the Red Sox, and the most they have allowed to any team since they gave up 22 to Cleveland in 2009. Tanaka is the first Yankees pitcher to allow 12 runs in a game since Red Ruffing allowed 12 on Sept. 2, 1939 at Fenway. He is also the first to allow at least 12 earned runs since Carl Mays allowed 13 on July 17, 1923.
It got so bad that Austin Romine — a catcher — picthed the bottom of the eight, giving up three runs on four hits, two of them homers.
The Red Sox (57-47) claimed their second win over the Yankees this season and cut into their American League East lead. The Yankees (66-36) hold a 9.5 game lead over the Rays and are 10-games ahead of the Red Sox.
This week, with road trips to the AL Central-leading Twins and the defending champion Red Sox, the Yankees have had a chance to gauge themselves against potential postseason opponents. The Yankees’ five starters had a disastrous turn through the rotation, allowing a combined 40 runs in just 17.2 innings pitched. According to YES, the last time that the Yankees had starters allow six or more runs in five consecutive games was in August of 1945.
“It’s been one hiccup for everyone of the guys, that it’s come in succession makes it difficult,” Aaron Boone said. “We just got to dig in and see where we can make little improvements and expect the next time out each guy will be sharp.”
Tanaka gave up his 12 earned runs on 12 hits. He walked three and struck out two in just 3.1 innings work. In his last two starts against the Red Sox, he has allowed 18 earned runs in four innings.
“Honestly, I really don’t know at this point. I felt like the stuff wasn’t bad. The pitches weren’t bad, but you know it ended up being what it ended up to be,” Tanaka said through an interpreter. “I need to look at some stuff and figure it out.”
And the Yankees need to figure out their pitching situation before Wednesday’s trade deadline.
Tanaka allowed seven runs on seven hits in the first inning alone, and needed 37 pitches to get through the opening frame. He got through the second unscathed on nine pitches, but gave up an RBI-double to Jackie Bradley, Jr. in the third.
The fourth, however, was too much. Rafael Devers led off with a homer, followed by a Xander Bogaerts single. He got J.D. Martinez swinging, before walking Andrew Benintendi and Michael Chavis doubled in a run.
At that point, Stephen Tarpley, who had been called up to give an overtaxed bullpen some length, was clearly warmed up and ready to go. Boone said after heavy usage in Minneapolis, he had four or five guys in the bullpen available Thursday night. He was trying to squeeze more out of Tanaka.
It backfired. Mitch Moreland doubled to right, driving in two more runs, before Boone could go get him.
“This time through, obviously we haven’t gotten length out of the starter,” Boone said. “Just being up against it like we are down there, just trying to work through the best we can right now.”
The Yankees have inquired about Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman, Mets right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler, Cleveland’s quirky starter Trevor Bauer. The Tigers’ Matthew Boyd, veteran postseason ace Madison Bumgarner and Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray.
“We just continue to pour into how we can get better,” Boone said. “We have a lot of guys in that room that are obsessed with that. That’s a really good thing. We’re in a really good position and have all the people in there to go out and be successful and have better days ahead for the guys that have struggled.”