Yanks’ Tanaka solid in debut
Masahiro Tanaka got a startling welcome to the major leagues when the Japanese star gave up a home run to Toronto’s Melky Cabrera on his third big league pitch.
Provided a 2-0 first-inning lead by the New York Yankees on Friday night, Tanaka began his career with a called strike on a 93 mph fastball. Cabrera took a slider, then sent a hanging changeup over the right-field wall as Ichiro, another Japanese star, ran out of room.
Tanaka retired Colby Rasmus on a grounder to first, getting to the bag in time to take a throw from Mark Teixeira. Tanaka followed by throwing a curveball past Jose Bautista for a called third strike, then got Edwin Encarnacion to strike out swinging on a slider.
Tanaka pitched seven innings in his debut and got the win with a final of 7-3.
Teixeira strains hamstring
New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira left the game against the Blue Jays in the bottom of the second inning with a strained right hamstring.
Teixeira was limited to 15 games last season because of a right wrist injury suffered at the World Baseball Classic.
He entered play Friday hitting .182 with no home runs and one RBI through three games, but had an RBI single in his only at-bat.
Puig scratched after late arrival
Yasiel Puig was scratched from the starting lineup after arriving late for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home opener.
He had been slated to start in right field for the afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Dodgers 8-4.
Instead, Matt Kemp replaced Puig in the lineup.
Indians renew Kipnis’ contract
The Cleveland Indians agreed to a $52.5 million, six-year contract with All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis, binding him to the Indians through the 2019 season. The deal includes a club option for 2020.
Native Americans, others protest logo
Holding hand-painted signs that read, “We Are Not Honored,” and “Our Children Are Not Mascots,” a contingent of Native Americans and some of their supporters demonstrated against the Indians’ use of their red-faced Wahoo logo prior to the home opener.
Robert Roche, executive director of the American Indian Education Center, is adamant the team should abolish the logo permanently, saying efforts to minimize Wahoo “are a façade.”