Masahiro Tanaka's Meltdown in Boston Was a Failure of Historic Proportions

After winning a grueling series against the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins, the New York Yankees moved onto a four-game series against the rival Boston Red Sox. The Yankees entered Thursday night feeling confident with pitcher Masahiro Tanaka on the mound.

That confidence took a brutal hit, as Tanaka was drilled for 12 earned runs on 12 hits in 3.1 innings of work. Tanaka now joins some unideal company, as he's allowed the most earned runs in a game in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry since Jack Russell did so back in 1929.

Masahiro Tanaka’s 12 earned runs are the most allowed by a pitcher in the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry since Boston SP Jack Russell allowed a dozen in a 1929 game.
— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) July 26, 2019

That's some bad company to be a part of.

If there's any consolation for Tanaka, it's that he doesn't own the record for most earned runs in a regular season outing (not limited to just the Red Sox). That belongs to Yankees pitcher Carl Mays, who allowed 13 earned runs back in 1923 against the Cleveland Indians.

The only Yankees pitcher to allow more earned runs in an outing since ER became official in 1913 is Carl Mays, who allowed 13 ER vs the Indians on July 17, 1923.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 26, 2019

Tanaka just didn't have it from the get go, as he allowed seven runs in the first inning, including a three-run home run from shortstop Xander Bogaerts. After seemingly keeping things under control in the second and third innings, Tanaka lost it, surrendering five runs in the fourth, resulting in him being pulled from the game.

Entering the game with a 4.00 ERA, Tanaka exited with a 4.79 ERA. Not a good night for Masahiro Tanaka, who ended up on the wrong side of history.