NEW YORK — Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka pitched into the eighth inning for his first win in five starts and All-Star left fielder Brett Gardner homered as the New York Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-2 on Thursday afternoon.
Tanaka (5-3) allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings for his first win since June 9 against the Washington Nationals. Both hits were in the second inning and, after that point, Tanaka allowed just one baserunner.
Tanaka struck out six, walked one and threw a season-high 114 pitches. He retired the final 13 hitters and 18 of the final 19 after allowing his second run.
Tanaka departed to a standing ovation after getting a called third strike to Oakland shortstop Marcus Semien, who fouled off four pitches.
Gardner — named to the All-Star team as an injury replacement for Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon — had three hits in his first three at-bats.
Designated hitter Mark Teixeira had an RBI single, increasing his league-leading RBI total to 62 and equaling his total from last season. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury had a two-run single in his second game off the disabled list since suffering a right knee injury.
Ellsbury also reached on a throwing error by Semien, which allowed New York’s final two runs to score. Semien’s high throw on a routine ground ball was his 28th error.
Oakland’s Jesse Chavez (4-9) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings during his first loss to the Yankees.
Designated hitter Billy Butler and left fielder Mark Canha had RBI doubles in the second off Tanaka.
New York took a 1-0 lead with one out in the first when Gardner drove a first-pitch fastball into the right-center-field seats. Butler’s double to left field made it 1-1 with nobody out in the second after right fielder Josh Reddick had reached on catcher’s interference. Canha’s double with two outs gave Oakland a 2-1 lead.
The Yankees tied it on Teixeira’s single with nobody out in the third and went ahead by getting three straight one-out hits in the fourth. After third baseman Cole Figueroa’s double over the first-base bag deflected off first-base umpire John Tumpane’s left leg, Ellsbury singled down the right-field line for a 4-2 lead.
NOTES: Oakland LHP Scott Kazmir did some light throwing Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s start after the third inning with left triceps tightness. Manager Bob Melvin said he wanted to see how Kazmir felt during his throwing session before proceeding. … The Yankees recalled INF Cole Figueroa from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, optioned INF Jose Pirela there and designated OF Taylor Dugas for assignment. … Yankees 3B Chase Headley missed his second straight game with a sore right calf, but manager Joe Girardi said he is feeling much better. … New York INF Brendan Ryan (back) began a rehab assignment with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will continue his rehab Friday with Double-A Trenton.