By George A. King III

tunuca

VIERA, Fla. — Even if you discount two-wind-blown homers and a run-scoring double that was aided by the breeze blowing from left to right, Masahiro Tanaka’s outing against the Nationals Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium wasn’t good.

The Yankees’ Opening Day starter April 4 against the Astros was battered from the first frame until he exited after four.

“Yes, they were flat,’’ Tanaka said of his pitches. “And not down in the zone.’’

Tanaka gave up a run in the initial inning when he was called for a balk, six in the third when Wilson Ramos and Stephen Drew each hit opposite-field homers to right. In four innings the Nationals collected nine hits en route to a 13-0 victory.

That’s not exactly what a team is looking for from its ace with one more start in front of an Opening Day assignment.

According to a speed gun behind the plate, Tanaka averaged 89 mph with his fastball that reached 92 mph. The slider, was described as “soft, with no bite’’ by a scout. The split had “limited depth.’’

Manager Joe Girardi hasn’t announced Tanaka as the Opening Day starter for a second straight season, but unless Tanaka is injured he gets the ball against the Astros in The Bronx.

“The positive is to get these kind of outings out of the way in spring training and not take them into the regular season,’’ said Tanaka, who has allowed 16 hits in 11 spring innings. “Obviously the results aren’t there, but the good part is I am healthy. I feel good about the whole body.’’

Girardi agreed with his ace about the outing not being good.

“His stuff wasn’t sharp tonight. I don’t think the command was good,’’ said the manager, who wants to see improvement the next time. “You want to get going. The next start is very important.’’

Asked if another clunker could put the Opening Day assignment in peril, Girardi said, “That’s way far in front.’’

Tanaka’s next start is likely Tuesday against the Pirates at GMS Field. That would give him five days’ rest, something the Yankees like to do with him, before the season starts.

Because he had a bone spur removed from his right elbow in October the Yankees eased Tanaka into the exhibition program.

“I wasn’t concerned that he was starting a little bit slower than maybe some other starters but you see that in a lot of camps, they kind of push starters back the first time through just because they don’t necessarily need seven starters, eight starters, or even six,’’ Girardi said. “So we thought it was best to know he was healthy and ready to go before we threw him in a game.’’