Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka shines at Seattle in return from 15-day DL

SEATTLE -- The New York Yankees hoped right-hander Masahiro Tanaka would regain his early season form in his much-hyped return from right wrist tendinitis and a right forearm strain.

But they didn't expect this.

"That's probably as good of stuff as he's had all year," manager Joe Girardi said.

After being activated from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, Tanaka (3-1, 2.76 ERA) allowed just one run on three hits and no walks over seven innings while striking out a season-high nine in a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

He could have gone deeper into the game, as he threw only 78 pitches (58 for strikes), but Girardi's plan is to ease him back into the rotation.

"We thought it was enough," Girardi said of his decision to lift Tanaka in his first start since April 23. "Believe me, I would have loved to (keep him in there)."

After allowing a combined three runs over six innings of two rehab starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Tanaka dominated a moribund Mariners offense as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep. His fastball was in the mid-90s. He worked ahead of hitters and retired the side in order in six of seven frames.

"Velocity has been a huge topic for him and we talked about how his average velocity has been there," Girardi said. "In April, a lot of times you don't see guys with velocity. You just don't. Part of it has to do with the weather. I was a little surprised."

The win pushed the Yankees to 29-25 and kept them in first place in a mediocre AL East. A healthy Tanaka means their rotation is starting to stabilize, since right-hander Ivan Nova, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, could rejoin the Yankees by the end of the month.

Tanaka's effort reminded Girardi of how he pitched before he was diagnosed with a slight tear in a right elbow ligament last July.

"I think it was the best outing I've had this year so far," Tanaka said through an interpreter.

The 26-year-old thinks missing a little more than a month this season may have helped him regain his arm strength. His health will be an ongoing question after he elected to not have Tommy John surgery.

So far it looks like the right choice.

"It's just one outing," he said after his fifth start of 2015. "It's a good outing but it was just one so I can't be too high about that. Maybe celebrate today but starting tomorrow I will look toward my next outing."

Tanaka retired his first six hitters in a row then ran into trouble in the third when shortstop Brad Miller led off with a triple. Left fielder Dustin Ackley followed with an RBI double then Tanaka rebounded to strike out No.-9 hitting catcher Mike Zunino.

"Obviously (he has a) good sinker, a good slider to righties and he has that split," Zunino said. "That was a big thing for him today to righties and lefties."

First baseman Logan Morrison answered with a single through the six-hole. But left fielder Ramon Flores charged, fielded and fired a perfect throw to the plate to nab a sliding Ackley by a few feet.

That was the only time the Mariners threatened to score against Tanaka. He retired the final 13 he faced.

In his past four starts, Tanaka is 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings.

"He looked filthy on the mound," said right fielder Garrett Jones, who supplied the go-ahead two-run homer in the fourth. "He was going at hitters, hitting the corners and just he looked nasty today. With the way he was going and the swings they were taking, there was a good chance that was all we needed."