Masahiro Tanaka watched Ivan Nova get knocked out in the fourth inning and the Yankees get knocked around 14-5 by the Orioles on Tuesday.
Needing a bounce-back performance, the Yankees will turn to the high-priced, high-profile Japanese import for his first home start Wednesday night.
“Win. That’s what I expect,’’ catcher Francisco Cervelli said. “Because he plays on this team and we play to win, every day. That’s our mentality. … We move on, and he’s a great pitcher. He’s going to be fine.’’
After watching the pomp and pageantry of Monday’s home opener, and soaking in the reception he got from The Bronx crowd, Tanaka said, “It felt like home.’’
The 25-year-old right-hander arrived from Japan in January, won his Major League debut Friday in Toronto, and — after being cheered in the home opener — aims for his first victory in pinstripes.
“If you listen to the crowd, yes, of course it makes me feel at home,” Tanaka said through his interpreter.
Despite the Bombers’ seemingly trying to manage expectations and designating Tanaka their No. 4 starter, he’ll have all eyes on him Wednesday. That’s what happens when they acquire a pitcher who hasn’t lost a regular-season game since 2012 and shower him with a seven-year, $155 million deal.
Tanaka was solid in his debut, allowing three runs in seven innings. He was only the seventh big league pitcher since 1900 to win his debut with at least eight strikeouts and no walks in at least seven frames. After allowing a leadoff homer to Melky Cabrera and two more runs in the second, Tanaka found his rhythm and threw five scoreless innings.
“I understand what I did wrong last outing. I’ll make those adjustments and go into the game [Wednesday],’’ Tanaka said. “For me, it’s all about the mechanics of how I pitch. So, that said, I know where I need to fix.’’
It says something about Tanaka that after such an auspicious debut, he was focused on fixing the few things he did wrong. He’s clearly a pitching perfectionist.
“Absolutely,’’ said catcher Brian McCann, behind the plate for Tanaka’s debut in Toronto. “I thought he pitched really well. He hung a split to Melky that got hit out. But after that, he didn’t hang many more splits. So that’s why he is who he is. That’s why he’s had the success that’s he’s had pitching. He’s a perfectionist, and he expects to be perfect.’’