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Masahiro Tanaka earns first loss in 42 starts to Chicago Cubs

By Melissa Felkins

May 20, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka throws a pitch in the rain against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka throws a pitch in the rain against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Cubs have done the unimaginable. No, they haven’t won the World Series. However, they did hand Masahiro Tanaka his first loss in 42 professional starts as a pitcher dating back to August of 2012. Tanaka had a 6-0 record with a 2.38 ERA heading into last night’s game.

The Cubs are the worst team in baseball. It should have been an open and shut game for the Yankees

But it wasn’t to be.

The Cubs won 6-1, which is coincidentally, Tanaka’s new pitching record this season. The Yankees went hard after Tanaka in the off-season and signed him to a 7 year/$155 million contract. He pitched 7 season in the Japanese league before coming to the Yankees. In his last season with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2013), he posted a 24-0 record.

As for last night’s game, Tanaka seemed to think it was a lack of control that did him in.

"Tanaka said his pitches “went to locations which were easy for the batters to hit” and more or less blamed the loss on a lack of command. Neither he nor the team seemed concerned and I don’t blame them. Losses happen.Cubs hand Masahiro Tanaka first regular season loss in 42 starts – Mike Axisa, CBS Sports"

Tanaka is schedule to face the Chicago White Sox on Sunday in his next start.

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