Morton (0-1) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in Monday's 6-0 loss to the Mariners.
Morton was an escape artist early on, emerging unscathed through four innings, three of which saw the Mariners get runners in scoring position. But the right-hander flirted with danger one too may times in the fifth inning when Seattle plated three runs and pushed Morton's pitch count up to 89. That was it for him. He certainly could have pitched better, but he and the rest of the starters are getting little support from the bats -- Houston is hitting .232. If the offense gets going as expected, Morton might be able to survive games like Monday's down the line. He's next scheduled to start Sunday at Oakland.