Yanks' Tanaka throws instructional league game

Sep 15, 2014 - 10:00 PM Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - In what could be a prelude to a return to the New York Yankees rotation, Masahiro Tanaka tossed five scoreless innings in an instructional league game at the team's spring training facility.

Tanaka, sidelined since early July with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, threw 65 pitches against a group of minor-league hitters. The All-Star hurler allowed six hits and struck out four.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild were both in attendance for Tanaka's outing. The team begins a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg on Monday.

The Yankees had been targeting a return for Tanaka before the conclusion of the regular season, which possibly could come as soon as this weekend.

Tanaka, who went 24-0 with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in his native Japan last season before signing a seven-year, $155 million contract with the Yankees in January, was having an outstanding first season in the majors prior to being shelved. The 25-year-old won 11 of his first 12 decisions and owns a 12-4 record with a 2.51 ERA over 18 overall starts.