Yankees ace Tanaka has first bullpen session since elbow injury

New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session in a month since going on the disabled list with a partial tear in his right elbow.

Tanaka, 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts, pitched from the mound before Saturday's game against Tampa Bay. This is the Japanese right-hander's first season in the major leagues.

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Tanaka looked ''fine,'' but that it's ''more important how he feels tomorrow.''

The Yankees put Tanaka on the disabled list July 9 and hope he can avoid surgery and return next month.