Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka allows first big league home run

Masahiro Tanaka had to wait nearly an hour and a half to start after a rain delay. (Charlie Neibergall/Getty Images)

Masahiro Tanaka made his first MLB start on Thursday in spring training. He also gave up his first MLB home run.

After pitching two scoreless innings in relief on Saturday, the 25-year-old Japanese phenom started against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., a game that was delayed about an hour and a half due to rain.

SI WIRE: Manny Ramirez not ready to retire from baseball

Tanaka worked around a one-out double to Marlon Byrd in the second inning, but then gave up a long home run to Freddy Galvis in the third.

Galvis, who was suspended 50 games in 2012 for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, has hit only nine home runs in 391 career at-bats.

In five innings this spring, Tanaka has given up four hits and struck out four with no walks. He threw 41 pitches on Thursday, 25 for strikes.

SI WIRE: David Ortiz says Derek Jeter is one guy baseball is going to miss

[mlbvideo id="31450333" width="400" height="224" /]