Photo Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY
Taijuan Walker threw six innings on Sunday, and despite giving up three home runs, he pitched well against the Phillies. Unfortunately, he didn’t get any help from the Mets’ offense, as they recorded just two hits and struck out 11 times en route to getting shut out by old friend, Zack Wheeler.
In those six innings pitched, Walker allowed four hits and three earned runs, along with striking out one and walking one over the course of 89 pitches thrown (58 for strikes). This was an important outing for the right-hander because he’s struggled so much since being named an All-Star for the first time in his career. The six innings he tossed marked the longest he’d lasted in a start since June 20th, and it was the first time he’d posted a quality start since June 15th.
While it wasn’t fun to watch them happen, the silver lining to Walker giving up these round-trippers was that nobody was on base when the balls went over the wall at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed solo home runs to Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto in the first, along with another solo home run to Bryce Harper in the sixth. Walker clearly settled in after that rough frame, giving up just two more hits in his next five innings pitched. Unfortunately, the right-hander has now allowed 10 homers in his last four starts. In 15 starts prior to this rough patch, Walker had allowed just six dingers to opposing hitters.
Walker spoke on giving up three more home runs Sunday afternoon, stating, “Two of them were opposite field in the first row, so I’m not mad at those. Obviously want to get a win, but I feel like I gave the team a chance to win today.”
He certainly did give his club a chance to win on Sunday, but Wheeler was just too dominant for New York’s struggling offense to make anything happen. Looking at the bright side, it was good to see Walker complete six innings, especially because it was the first time a Mets starter has accomplished that in the month of August. Allowing three runs over six innings leads to a usually uninspiring 4.50 ERA. But since the right-hander owned a 12.00 ERA through 15 second-half innings heading into Sunday’s start, this is a significant step in the right direction.
