TAMPA, Fla. -- Masahiro Tanaka's first start of the spring was such a success, he had to work overtime.
Tanaka, who missed two-and-a-half months last season with a slight torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, fired two perfect innings for the Yankees against Atlanta on Thursday night. He needed just 19 pitches, which included 15 strikes, to breeze through the Braves.
After being removed from the game, Tanaka had to head down to the bullpen to throw 18 more pitches to fulfill his day of training.
On Thursday, Tanaka, who threw four of his trademark splitters, looked better than he did for his final two starts of his rookie season after his UCL rehab. He was rocked in his final start last season, going just 1 2/3 innings and allowing seven runs (five earned) at Fenway Park on the second to last day of the season.
"I feel better," Tanaka, 26, said. "I've had more time to prepare myself."
In the first, Tanaka sent the Braves down in order, throwing 11 pitches (nine strikes). Tanaka reached 94 mph on the radar gun.
"That's pretty good this time of year," manager Joe Girardi said.
Tanaka struck out Freddie Freeman looking on a 3-2 slider to end the inning. He began the second with a strikeout swinging of Jonny Gomes on one of his classic splitters. He ended the inning with two groundouts.
"Overall, I was good," Tanaka said. "Probably the best part I was able to get first pitch strikes."