New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka picked up his sixth loss of the season in a 7-3 defeat to the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium on Friday.

Tanaka was charged with three runs — including a solo homer by Carlos Santana — and seven hits over six-plus innings to drop to 9-6, his second defeat in three starts.

In the top of the third inning, Francis Lindor sent a 2-2 pitch off Tanaka just past the glove of third baseman Chase Headley, sending Jose Ramirez home to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.

New York answered with a run in the fourth on a single by Greg Bird, but Lindor reached on a fielding error by shortstop Brendan Ryan and Abraham Almonte scored to put the Indians ahead 2-1 in the fifth.

Tanaka (9-6) gave up a homer to Santana in the sixth before he was pulled to make way for Chasen Shreve in the top of the seventh.

"I struggled with my count when there were runners on and when there weren't," said Tanaka, who gave up four runs, including one unearned, while walking two and striking out three.

"While our opponent's pitcher (Carlos Carrasco) was pitching well, I was giving up runs here and there and making things hard for our offense.

"I just have to accept this, turn things around and look ahead to the next game."

Carrasco allowed five hits and one run in 6⅔ innings. He struck out 11. He threw 81 of his 108 pitches for strikes.