TORONTO — Masahiro Tanaka was a hit after the nerves stopped jangling throughout his body. Jacoby Ellsbury displayed the type of talent the Yankees believed was worth a very high price tag. And Yangervis Solarte continued to make the Yankees look good for keeping him over Eduardo Nunez.
Yet, the Yankees’ 7-3 win over the Blue Jays in front of a sold-out Rogers Center crowd of 48,197 Friday night likely came with a huge price tag.
While fielding a foul ground ball behind first base, Mark Teixeira felt something grab in the right hamstring, and by the sound of his words it’s not a two- or three-day deal.
“This one wasn’t like getting shot but I definitely felt a pull,’’ said Teixeira, who will be evaluated Saturday. If tests are required they will be done Monday in New York.
Losing Teixeira, who had an RBI single in the two-run first, took something away from the Yankees’ second straight victory simply because the backup first baseman is Kelly Johnson, the starting third baseman whose best position is second.
“Whatever it takes,’’ said Johnson, who went 2-for-5.
What it took for Tanaka to grab his first big league victory in his initial major league game was the ability to settle down after Melky Cabrera crushed his third pitch of the night for a homer and Jonathan Diaz, the No. 9 hitter, drove in two runs with a single in second.
“I was nervous before going in the game,” Tanaka said through an interpreter after going seven innings, allowing three runs, six hits, whiffing eight and not issuing a walk. “Once I was up on the mound, I felt like I really couldn’t get into the game. I really couldn’t focus myself at the game.”
After pitching around a one-out double by Edwin Encarnacion in the third, Tanaka retired eight straight before Encarnacion singled off Solarte’s glove at third on a play that should have been ruled an error.
Others helped make Tanaka’s Yankees debut a success. Ellsbury went 3-for-4, scored twice and stole two of the four bases swiped by the Yankees. Solarte went 2-for-5 and drove in three runs. Ichiro Suzuki was 3-for-5. And Dellin Betances, who missed a chance for his first big league save by not getting the final three outs, retired Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista to end the eighth.
“I felt pretty good at the plate but I felt good the first few games,’’ Ellsbury said. “But it’s nice to get results.’’
Ellsbury greeted Dustin McGowan with a leadoff double that was followed by singles from Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran. Teixeira made it 2-0. Solarte’s two-out, two-run double in the third erased a 3-2 Blue Jays lead and Tanaka made sure it stuck.
“He pitched outstanding,’’ Teixeira said. “It shows heart and determination. It didn’t faze him at all. That’s a good sign.’’
Watching Teixeira drag his right leg out the back door of the Yankees’ clubhouse wasn’t a good sign. As was the case last year when Teixeira was injured during spring training, there isn’t a bona fide replacement in the system.
And with the season less than a week old, it’s highly doubtful a team is going to deal any frontline players.