Taijuan Walker has come on strong after a slow start. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
SAN DIEGO — The last name just doesn’t fit.
“I don’t think he’s walked a guy in three games,” Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said.
Of course, the skipper is right.
Taijuan Walker faces the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon and maybe it’s a good thing the calendar has turned.
Walker was sensational in June as he cemented his spot as a go-to pitcher in Seattle’s rotation.
Less than 24 hours after getting one-hit by Mike Montgomery the San Diego Padres face an improving Walker.
McClendon said the reason is simple.
“It’s the command of his fastball,” McClendon said. “He’s able to put the baseball where he wants to do.
Walker, 22, is 5-1 in his last six starts and has won four straight games.
“That goes to show you what pitching is about: in and out, up and down,” McClendon said. “He changes the eye-level and that’s good pitching.
McClendon also mentioned Walker now has a presence and an attitude and that the “game has slowed down for him.”
“It has all come together for him right now.”
It’s a transformation that can be traced to when things were going sideways for Walker.
He was pitching against the Blue Jays on May 24 and his outing was unraveling. But McClendon never left the dugout’s top step.
“I left him out there,” McClendon said. “That was what he needed at that point. He needed to figure it out one way or the other.”
Walker got the loss to go to 1-5.
And he hasn’t lost since.
And he hasn’t walked a batter since June 10.
