DETROIT — With each step Masahiro Tanaka takes without suffering a setback, the Yankees are encouraged. Thursday the right-hander, who is attempting to return from a small tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, will throw a second simulated game at Comerica Park.
“You feel comfortable that it’s going to happen, but I still talk about the intensity of a major league game compared to a minor league game or a simulated game,’’ manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday before the Yankees’ 8-4 win over the Tigers. “Those are the hurdles you have to get through.’’
If Tanaka gets through Thursday’s exercise (consisting of three innings or 45 pitches), his workload will increase. Nevertheless, because his next throwing day would be Tuesday, and the possibility that none of the Yankees’ minor league teams will be in the postseason, there is a chance it could be another simulated game.
“We will bump up the amount of innings and pitch counts,’’ Girardi said. “I can’t exactly say where we will go, but we will bump it up.’’
Girardi’s approach to Tanaka’s rehab program, which was implemented with the hope the right-hander, in whom the Yankees have a $175 million investment, could avoid Tommy John surgery, is simple.
“You plan it out and it’s either going to work or it’s not going to work,’’ Girardi said. “As long as you are having steps in the right direction, it’s working. The hard thing is if you have a setback it probably means surgery. It’s not like rehabbing a hamstring or something like that. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.’’
The Yankees’ nine straight hits in the third inning were two short of the major league record for consecutive hits in an inning, set in 2010 by the Rockies.
Derek Jeter was presented a $5,000 check for his Turn 2 Foundation, two seats from Tiger Stadium and three paintings by the Tigers in a pregame ceremony.
On hand were youngsters from Jeter’s foundation, Tigers greats Al Kaline and Willie Horton, Jeter’s former Yankees teammates Phil Coke and Joba Chamberlain, now with the Tigers, and Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski. Jeter’s parents, Dorothy and Charles, were also at home plate for the ceremony, as was his sister, Sharlee.
“I thought it was very nice, including my family and [the] kids,’’ Jeter said. “It was a class act from a class organization.’’
Girardi took the ice bucket challenge to benefit ALS with media director Jason Zillo dousing the manager. Girardi then offered a challenge to Joe Torre, Tino Martinez, Goose Gossage and Paul O’Neill.
“The four guys who will join Lou Gehrig in Monument Park,’’ said Girardi, who lost an uncle to ALS in April.