Eye on MLB, June 3: Masahiro Tanaka dominates in return to Yanks

On Wednesday, Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka made his first start since April 23. Sufficiently recovered form forearm and wrist problems, Tanaka went out and dominated the Mariners ... 

That's his highest strikeout total since June 17 of last year. Here's a look ...

In addition to the kind of dominance you see above, Tanaka's velocity readings were also promising. Via Brooks Baseball ... 

Good marks on the fastball, and what's particularly encouraging is that Tanaka appeared to get stronger as the game went along. In fact, his highest readings came just before his 78-pitch outing ended (58 strikes on the day). 

Needless to say, this is all very good news for the Yankees. This season, the Yankee rotation has allowed 4.21 runs per game versus an AL average mark for starters of 4.18. As well, Yankee starters rank ninth in the AL in innings per start and 13th in quality start percentage. To say that the Yanks need rotation help is an understatement. 

Obviously, Tanaka has spent a large portion of his brief MLB career on the disabled list, so he offers no guarantees moving forward. Wednesday's gem, though, at least gives the first-place Yanks some positive takeaways. Tanaka's back, at least for now.

(Image: USATAI)

Here is Wednesday's edition of Eye on MLB, aka The Eye, which is your daily one-stop shop for everything that happens in the world of baseball. Game recaps, milestone updates, important highlights, news and notes ... all that and more can be found right here. Either check back through the day for updates or come back for the finished product on Thursday morning, Your call.

Today's MLB action (all times ET) (Full scoreboard)

Red Sox 6, Twins 3 (Box score): Four hits by Dustin Pedroia paced the Boston offense, which hung five runs and 11 hits on Phil Hughes in 4 2/3 innings. Xander Bogaerts had three hits himself and drove in a pair of runs. Rookie lefty Eduardo Rodriguez dazzled in his second MLB start (and Fenway Park debut), holding Minnesota to one run on two hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out seven in the first game of their doubleheader.

Cardinals 7, Brewers 4 (Box score): This game was over after the first inning. Or at least it felt that way. St. Louis scored five runs off Jimmy Nelson in the bottom of the first -- the first six batters they sent to the plate reached base, then the seventh and eighth batters hit sac flies -- and nursed that lead the rest of the way. Adam Lind drove in runs in the seventh and ninth to make the game seem closer than it really was. Matt Carpenter, Jhonny Peralta and Yadier Molina had two hits apiece for the Cardinals. The Brewers have lost 11 of their last 14 games.

Yankees 3, Mariners 1 (Box score): Masahiro Tanaka was limited to 80 pitches in his first start off the DL after missing a month with wrist tendinitis, and he made the most of it: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K. He was dominant. The Yankees got home runs from Mark Teixeira (solo) and Garrett Jones (two-run) while Andrew Miller nailed down the five-out save. He's 17 for 17 in save chances. The Yankees swept the three-game series in Safeco Field.

Diamondbacks 9, Braves 8 (Box score): The D-backs came from being down 6-0 in the second and 7-3 in the fifth to win. A.J. Pollock homered for a second straight game, and Yasmany Tomas had three hits. For the Braves, Freddie Freeman homered twice. Arizona scored its ninth run when Braves reliever Jim Johnson made a bad throw while trying to trap Nick Ahmed in a rundown. 

Pirates 5, Giants 2 (Box score): Starters Francisco Liriano and Tim Hudson each worked seven innings, struck out six and walked one. However, Liriano allowed one run to Hudson's two. The Pirates sealed it when they reached the San Fran bullpen for three late runs, thus cinching the three-game road sweep. Jordy Mercer homered and doubled for Pittsburgh. 

Marlins 7, Cubs 3 (Box score): Benches cleared in this one (see below!), but the Marlins, thanks in part to back-to-back homers by Giancarlo Stanton and Jeff Baker, prevailed. Jon Lester allowed six runs in 5.0 innings, and Dexter Fowler went 0-for-5. The loss drops the Cubs to 12-13 on the road and 15-16 since the end of April. 

Blue Jays 8, Nationals 0 (Box score): Veteran lefty Mark Buehrle was the story, as he struck out two and walked one en route to his 10th career shutout. It was also his second straight complete game. Elsewhere for the Jays, Jose Bautista homered, and Jose Reyes went 3-for-4 with a walk. The Nats have now lost five out of their last six games. 

Phillies 5, Reds 4 - 11 innings (Box score): The Phils rallied to win despite being no-hit by Mike Leake for 6 2/3 innings and despite being down 4-0 in the ninth. Aroldis Chapman blew his first save since June 28 of last year and gave up his first home run since May 13 of last year. This one came off the bat of Phillies phenom and recent call-up Maikel Franco ...

Cody Ashe scored the winning run in the 11th on a two-base throwing error by reliever Ryan Mattheus. 

Athletics 6, Tigers 1 (Box score): Sonny Gray twirled another gem (8 IP, 0 R, 2H, 7 K, 1 BB), and in doing so lowered his 2015 ERA to 1.65. Josh Reddick went 2-for-4 and hit his eighth homer of the season. Detroit, meantime, has now dropped six games in a row. Anibal Sanchez struck out only one batter and allowed four runs on five hits and four walks in 7.0 innings. The Tigers' no. 5 through no. 9 hitters were a combined 0-for-16. 

Red Sox 6, Twins 3 (Box score): Rookie left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez was dominant again in his second major-league start. In fact, Rodriguez became the first pitcher since at least 1900 to pitch at least 7.0 innings, allow no more than three hits and no more than one run in each of his first two outings. On Wednesday, Rodriguez worked exactly 7.0 innings and allowed one run on two hits while striking out seven and walking two. On the offensive side of things, the Boston middle infield -- 2B Dustin Pedroia and SS Xander Bogaerts -- combined to go 7-for-9 at the plate as the Sox salvaged the second game of the doubleheader. 

White Sox 9, Rangers 2 (Box score): Jose Abreu homered, and Chris Sale struck out 10 or more batters for the fourth time in his last five starts. On the night, Sale struck out 13 and walked two across 7.0 scoreless innings. Tyler Flowers went 3-for-5 with a homer of his own. On the Texas side of things, the highlight was Joey Gallo's second career home run ... 

Royals 4, Indians 2 (Box score): The Royals got to Corey Kluber for four runs over eight innings, and Jason Vargas turned in just his third quality start of the season. As they're wont to do, the KC bullpen put up a scoreless collective effort (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0 BB). The Royals as a team rapped four doubles, and for Cleveland Michael Bourn went 3-for-3. 

Astros 3, Orioles 1 (Box score): Lance McCullers notched a complete game and struck out 11 without walking none. He also recorded 10 groundball outs. Offensively, Chris Carter homered twice, and George Springer also homered while going 2-for-3. Adam Jones collected two of the Orioles' four hits on the night. The O's are now a season-worst six games under .500.

Padres 7, Mets 3 (Box score): James Shields moved to 7-0 on the year (although his ERA is a merely decent 3.58), and Will Venable, Justin Upton and Matt Kemp each tallied two hits. In taking two of three from the Mets, the Padres won a home series for the first time in a month. Dillon Gee, who was making his first start since going on the DL in early May with a groin injury, allowed seven runs in 4.0 innings. 

Rays 6, Angels 5 - 10 innings (Box score): Kevin Kiermaier's 10th-inning homer made the difference, as the Rays and now Angels now both check in at 28-26 on the year. Mike Trout hit his 14th homer of the season. The two teams' bullpens combined to allow two runs in 10 innings of work. 

Rockies 7, Dodgers 6 (Box score): Dodgers rookie sensation Joc Pederson homered for a fifth straight game and went 2-for-3 with a walk. He's now batting .267/.393/.606 on the year. For Colorado, Troy Tulowitzki homered, and Charlie Blackmon went 3-for-4. In his first start since almost no-hitting the Phillies, Chad Bettis pitched well for the Rox, allowing two runs over 6.0 innings. The lede has been buried: The Rockies rallied for three runs in the ninth (off four different Dodger relievers) to pull off the comeback via walk-off sac fly. 

Milestone Watch

Longest active hit streak: Blue Jays outfielder Chris Colabello went 1-for-4 on Wednesday night, extending his major-leading hit streak to 14 games.

Monthly Awards: MLB announced the monthly awards for May on Wednesday. Here are the winners:

MLB says Harper and Scherzer are the first pair of teammates to win the NL Player and Pitcher of the Month awards in the same month since Ryan Braun and CC Sabathia for the Brewers in July 2008.

Daily Awards

Post-apocalyptic ballpark of the day: The trailer for the video game Fallout 4 was released on Wednesday (see it here). I've never played the Fallout series (I'm more of a sports game guy myself) but I'm told Fallout 4 is highly anticipated. Anyway, the game is set in Boston and focuses on a post-nuclear war world, and the trailer shows what appears to be Fenway Park in ruins:

It's not an exact replica, but the baseball player statue and general look suggest it is meant to at least approximate Fenway Park, perhaps Gate B. Neat! (hat tip/screen grab from Deadspin)

Transaction of the day: The Brewers managed to make a three-Tyler transaction at the minor league level on Wednesday:

Scary play of the day: Brewers infielder Hector Gomez crashed into the stands chasing after a foul pop-up on Wednesday. He was able to walk off the field under his power. The Brewers say Gomez does not have a concussion and is heading for more tests. Here's the play:

Celebrity baseball enthusiasm of the day: Posted without comment ... 

Near-brawl of the day: Cubs, Marlins and the ongoing struggle over home run trot decorum ... 

Injuries, News & Rumors

Phillies SP Chad Billingsley throwing for first time since injury

Hand injury keeps Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos on bench

Cubs RF Jorge Soler placed on 15-day DL with ankle sprain

Mets RP Vic Black moving rehab to Triple-A

Yankees C Brian McCann only lasts 1 1/2 innings Wednesday

Orioles recall T.J. McFarland, option Oliver Drake to Triple-A

Dodgers option pitcher Ian Thomas to Triple-A

McClendon continues to stand behind Fernando Rodney as M's closer

A's pitcher Drew Pomeranz activated from 15-day disabled list

Nationals option CF Matt den Dekker to Triple-A Syracuse

Rockies send down David Hale to Triple-A Albuquerque

Diamondbacks SP Enrique Burgos will need more time on DL

Cubs prospect Javier Baez to give third base a try

Yankees officially activate Tanaka in time for Wednesday start

Yankees designate David Carpenter for assignment

Giants SP Jake Peavy expected to make rehab start Saturday

Yankees legend Mariano Rivera has a hand in Dellin Betances' torrid start

Thumb procedure to sideline Brewers' Ryan Braun till Sunday

Rangers' Jeff Banister open to moving Joey Gallo to outfield

Red Sox recall RP Robbie Ross Jr. for DH on Wednesday

Twins' Molitor: 50 percent chance Ricky Nolasco goes on DL

Twins SP Kyle Gibson pushed back to Friday vs. Milwaukee

Twins to call up Tommy Milone to start Thursday at Boston

Red Sox veteran David Ortiz: I don't have timetable for retirement

Report: Reds to call-up infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. from Triple-A

Relatively light schedule on Thursday, though some really great and fun to watch starting pitchers will be on the mound. Dallas Keuchel, Jake Arrieta, Carlos Rodon, Trevor Bauer, Matt Harvey, Michael Wacha ... nice little list there.