TORONTO — Masahiro Tanaka watched from the dugout on Sunday afternoon, a towel around his neck and arms folded as he observed the final moments of the Yankees’ game against the Blue Jays. In a rotation with plenty of holes, he had just provided a much-needed reprieve.

No Yankees starting pitcher had tossed eight innings since Tanaka’s complete game on June 17. Only two had even managed to complete seven innings in that span, which featured historic lows for a Yankees pitching staff.

But after spinning eight stellar innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tanaka was a mere spectator in the biggest moment of the game in the ninth: Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees’ closer, facing the young Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the tying run on base.

After a 13-pitch at-bat — the longest of Chapman’s career — the closer bested Guerrero to secure the first-place Yankees’ 1-0 win over the Blue Jays. After the final out, Tanaka pumped his fist.