Right on queue. Masahiro Tanaka allowed a run in the first 3 innings (including 2 solo home runs) and the Yanks were down, 3-0. Then he pitched 4 scoreless and left after the 7th, having more than kept his team in the game, with a 4-3 lead. The Score Truck made a late appearance as the Yanks beat the Rays, 9-3.

That Tanaka, man, he’s impressive. Not because he’s been overpowering. He’s been fortunate. I mean, if the Yanks got shutdown yesterday he takes the loss. But he’s just been resilient and that’s so much fun to watch, ain’t it?

“He finds a way to make adjustments and hang around, in a sense,” manager Joe Girardi said. “… Understanding what he needs to do off the field to be successful is probably just as important as knowing what he needs to do on the field to be successful, because you bring it to the park with you every day, and if there’s frustration or other things going on in your life, it can affect how you perform on the field. But his embracing everything has been important.”

Another pleasant surprise has been Mark Teixeira who is starting to hit a little bit and with power.

[Photo Via: The Benjamins]