Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka delivers solid effort in victory over Indians

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)

Source : Baseball – The Japan Times

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