Masahiro Tanaka didn¡¯t have the return to Japan he¡¯d hoped for, but it was an important first step nonetheless.
Tanaka was back on an NPB mound for the first time since 2013 and was given a rough welcome by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday afternoon at Tokyo Dome.
Sho Nakata absolutely crushed a high fastball for a two-run home run in the first inning and Kazunari Ishii opened the second with a solo shot. Tanaka didn¡¯t give up anything else, but the damage had been done.
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