Tanaka Time in the Bronx

I was on hand last night to watch Masahiro Tanaka's first start at Yankee Stadium. Much like Friday's game in Toronto, he struggled early -- but after giving up a three-run homer to Jonathan Scoop, he settled down and began to dominate. The pricey import made a bunch of Baltimore batters look bad. He struck out 10 on the night -- causing a steady succession of ugly swings-and-misses. One victim, Adam Jones.
Or those that result in awful foul balls... Tanaka's bottom line, seven innings and three runs. He left with the game tied 3 - 3 (the Yankee bullpen let it slip away in the 9th.) Not only was there was a large contingent of Japanese media, but plenty of enthusiastic fans connecting Tanaka with his home country.

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