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Masahiro Tanaka cruises through second spring outing

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Masahiro Tanaka struck out three batters over three scoreless innings Friday.Kim Klement/USA Today Sports

Masahiro Tanaka struck out three batters over three scoreless innings Friday.

TAMPA – Elbow surgery? What elbow surgery?

Masahiro Tanaka continued to put the Yankees’ collective minds at ease Friday, throwing three scoreless innings in a 7-1 win over the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field.

Tanaka allowed only one infield hit and struck out three batters, throwing 30 of his 40 pitches for strikes. Although his final line was superb, Tanaka was critical of his performance.

“I wasn’t actually hitting my spots,” Tanaka said through his translator. “I felt that I was a little off-balance. Given that, I was able to hold the opponent to no score, so that part I’m pretty satisfied with.”

The Yankees are certainly satisfied with Tanaka’s progress this spring. They took it slow with him early in camp following last October’s surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, though he’s caught up with the rest of the rotation and is on track to start the season-opener on April 4.

“He looks like he’s getting good extension on his pitches,” catcher Brian McCann said. “He’s able to go glove side, which is probably the hardest thing to get extended on. He’s doing it fine. I wouldn’t even be able to tell (he had surgery) if I didn’t know.”

Tanaka has allowed three hits and one walk in five innings during his two spring outings, walking one and striking out five.

“I feel that I’m exactly where I need to be at,” Tanaka said. “If I compare with my first year and my second year right around this time, I think I’m exactly where I was in the previous two spring trainings.”

To say Tanaka was facing a light Baltimore lineup Friday would be a huge understatement. Hyun Soo Kim – a rookie signed this winter out of Korea – was the only projected regular to make the trip from Sarasota, and he had opened his spring 1-for-24 for the winless Orioles.

Still, Tanaka began his day with a pair of strikeouts against Joey Rickard and Ryan Flaherty, then got Nolan Reimold to ground out back to the mound.

Masahiro Tanaka finished with a great line Friday, but was unhappy with his control.Kim Klement/USA Today Sports

Masahiro Tanaka finished with a great line Friday, but was unhappy with his control.

Kim led off the second with an infield single to second base, a ball initially scored as a Starlin Castro error before being changed a couple innings later to a hit. A fly out and a fielder’s choice left the Orioles with a runner at first base and two out, but McCann’s throwing error put runners at the corners, leaving Tanaka in a jam.

Not that Tanaka minded.

“You need to do that,” Tanaka said. “You need to get that in. Having runners on, having to throw in the stretch, that’s something you definitely want to do before going into the regular season.”

Tanaka answered the challenge, striking out Steve Tolleson to strand the runners on base.

“I thought he commanded everything, both sides of the plate,” McCann said. “I really liked his fastball command today.”

Tanaka opened the third by hitting Paul Janish with a pitch, but he erased the runner with a 4-6-3 double play before retiring Flaherty on a ground out to end the inning. There were no signs of any elbow issues during the outing, leaving McCann encouraged that the Yankees’ ace will be ready to go when the bell rings next month.

“He’s in total control of what he’s doing and I just go off of him,” McCann said. “He’s throwing the ball great, he’s moving around great. He doesn’t seem to have any problems. I think he feels really good.”

Tanaka’s next start will likely come in Bradenton on Thursday against the Pirates, giving him an extra day of rest. If the Yankees keep him on a six-day schedule this spring, he would have three more outings and be lined up to pitch against the Astros on Opening Day.

“I’m happy with where I’m at,” Tanaka said. “I felt that the first outing went well. I think I’m pretty satisfied with today’s outing as well. We have a couple more left, but I’m pretty happy with where I’m at right now.”

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