Masahiro Tanaka pushed his starting pitcher's pride to one side on Saturday, when he was pulled after five innings despite having allowed just one run.
The New York Yankees right-hander left with a 3-1 lead after throwing 78 pitches and appeared ready to face the top of the Boston Red Sox’s batting order, but was instead told by manager Aaron Boone that his evening was over. The Yankees went on to win 6-2, leveling their best-of-five American League Divisional Series with the Red Sox at one game apiece.
"I gave it all I had and besides, I think that coming out of the game in this fashion is completely different if you are in the postseason. I don't have anything special to say about it," said Tanaka, whose homeland's baseball culture is still obsessed with the idea of complete-game starts.