Mariners manager Scott Servais: ‘It’s about starting pitching and you can see what happens when it lines up for us’

Some notes stuff from Brooks Baseball on Taijuan Walker

Walker’s pitch locations

From the visiting manager’s office: Terry Francona

On what Taijuan Walker had working for him tonight: “Oh everything. He beats us with velocity and then he threw a split that came off at the same angle as his fastball.  Not sure what he was doing with these other teams but he’s just really impressive. We’ve seen him four times and tonight might have been the best.  It was a dominating performance.”

On Carrasco’s performance: “I mean Iannetta drove in all their runs and I thought he really pitched the guys in the middle of the order very tough.  Just left some pitches, Iannetta is a strong kid, and he left some pitches middle-middle.  One’s a fastball, one’s a breaking ball but that ended up being just way too much the way Walker was pitching.”

On the illegal pitch: “Well they got it right.  He was going to throw a fastball away and I don’t think he was comfortable with the pitch but he already started his motion.  I think once he realized, I don’t want to say panicked, but just kind of wanted to throw the ball. The way it unfolded was awkward but they ended up getting it right.  It was kind of a unique play for sure.”

MARINERS NOTES:

Seattle recorded its 5th shutout of the season (last: May 21 at Cincinnati).

• Others: April 29 & 30 vs. Kansas City, May 17 at Baltimore & May 21 at Cincinnati.

Seattle limited the Indians to 1 run or less for the 3rd time in 6 meetings this season.

• Have limited Cleveland to 3 runs or less in 5 of the 6 games.

Taijuan Walker struck out a career-high tying 11 batters tonight.

• 4th time, also: June 20, 2015 vs. HOU; July 31, 2015 at MIN & April 25, 2016 vs. HOU.

Taijuan Walker went 8.0 scoreless innings tonight and is now 4-0 with a 0.32 ERA (1 ER, 28.0 IP) with 31 strikeouts in his career vs. Cleveland.

• Walker has won all four of his career starts against the Indians.

Chris Iannetta (3×3, 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI) hit his 5th and 6th home runs of the season.

• Recorded his 2nd career multi-home run game (also: 5/28/11 vs. STL w/COL)
• Hitting .400 (10×25) with 4 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 6 RBI and 2 walks over last 7 games (5/30-c).
• Three of Iannetta’s 6 home runs this season have given the Mariners the lead.
• Had a season-high with 4 RBI and tied a season-high with 3 hits.

Entering play today, Taijuan Walker ranked 16th in the American League in strikeout-to-walk ratio with a mark of 3.47 (52 K, 15 BB)…after striking out 11 with 0 walks, Walker improved his K/BB rate to 4.20 (63 K, 15 BB).

• Retired first 9 batters he faced (5 via strikeout)…retired 24 of 27 batters he faced overall (11 strikeouts).
• Walker held Cleveland hitless in 3 at-bats with runners in scoring position tonight, lowering his average against with runners in scoring position this season to .236 (13×55)…since May 18, opponents are batting .167 (4×24) with runners in scoring position vs. Walker.

Ketel Marte (2×3, 2 R, 2 SB) has hit safely in 23 of his last 30 games (4/21-c), batting .319 (38×119) with 21 runs, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 13 RBI, 4 walks and 7 stolen bases.

• 3rd career game with 2 stolen bases, 2nd this season (5/21/16 at CIN).

Robinson Canó (2×4, 2B) has hit safely in 30 of his last 36 games dating back to May 1.

• Over that stretch, he is hitting .333 (49×147) with 32 runs scored, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 24 RBI, 3 HBP, 8 walks.

INDIANS NOTES:

Cleveland was shut out for the 3rd time this season (5/7 vs. KC & April 17 vs. NYM).

Cleveland has lost its second straight game following a 6-game winning streak.

Despite the loss, Cleveland is 10-6 in their last 16 games and 15-9 in their last 24 games.

Carlos Carrasco went 6.2 IP innings tonight and allowed 4 runs, 5 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 6.

• Is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA (6 ER, 19.1 IP) in four career appearances against the Mariners.

BOXSCORE