NEW YORK – Masahiro Tanaka turned out another quality start on Friday to help the New York Yankees clinch their 27th straight season above .500 with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians.
It’s the second-longest streak in major league history behind the Yankees’ run of 39 seasons from 1926 to 1964.
Coming off a scoreless eight-inning performance against the Toronto Blue Jays last week, Tanaka (9-6) held the visitors to two runs on four hits at Yankee Stadium, striking out two without issuing a walk over 6⅓ innings.
The right-hander gave up solo blasts to Jose Ramirez in the second and Yasiel Puig in the seventh before yielding a one-out double and handing off to Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle, who fanned two to keep New York’s lead intact.
“On the whole I was able to pitch well. I was able to win thanks to the relief keeping things together,” Tanaka said. “I’m in a good frame of mind as I begin preparing for my next start.”
Tanaka is looking to become the first Japanese to post double-digit wins in six consecutive major league seasons.
Teammate Aaron Judge was happy with his first multihit game in nearly two weeks, but it was a defensive gem by teammate Brett Gardner that had the right fielder buzzing.
In a game with a postseason feel, Gardner made a game-saving catch in center.
With one out in the eighth inning and Tyler Naquin on second in a one-run game, Francisco Lindor hit a 114-meter drive off Zack Britton to deep right-center field. Gardner raced back, made the grab and held onto the ball as he ran into the fence in front of the Yankees’ bullpen.
“Ten out of 10 times I know he’s going to make that play,” Judge said. “Where he was positioned, the jump he got and from my view how he was tracking it down — I know he had a good bead on it, and he saved the game for us.”
Dodgers 8, Braves 3
In Atlanta, Max Muncy and Justin Turner hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh to produce a four-run rally and send Los Angeles on its way to a win over the Braves.
Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda struck out nine, including seven straight, but allowed three runs on five hits and four walks in 4⅔ innings in no-decision.
“I hurt myself with the walks more than the hits,” said Maeda, who gave up Los Angeles’ lead on two singles, a double and three walks in the Braves’ three-run second.
Giants 10, Diamondbacks 9 (11)
In Phoenix, Mike Yastrzemski hit three home runs, including a solo shot on the first pitch of the 11th as San Francisco outlasted Arizona in a wild game that featured 12 homers.
It was the first career multi-home run game for Yastrzemski, a 28-year-old rookie who has five homers in his past four games and 11 since the All-Star break. He has 16 on the season.
White Sox 7, Angels 2
In Anaheim, James McCann went 3-for-4 with a grand slam to help Chicago triumph over the hosts.
Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Twins 4, Rangers 3
In Arlington, Texas, Jonathan Schoop belted a two-run, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, and Max Kepler also homered to lead Minnesota over the hosts.
Kepler, a native of Berlin, Germany, hit his 33rd homer of the season, passing Bobby Thomson (Scotland) for most in a season by European-born player in major league history.
In Other Games
Nationals 2, Brewers 1
Royals 4, Mets 1
Cardinals 13, Reds 4
Pirates 3, Cubs 2
Rockies 3, Marlins 0
Red Sox 9, Orioles 1
Tigers 2, Rays 0
Blue Jays 7, Mariners 3
Phillies 8, Padres 4
Athletics 3, Astros 2 (13)
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Source : Baseball – The Japan Times