Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker allowed eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits in three innings of work in Seattle's 11-4 loss to the Astros Saturday.
Walker struggled early and often, failing to record an out in the fourth inning. After giving up two runs in the second, Walker gave up a two-run blast to Evan Gattis followed by a solo shot to Colby Rasmus in the third.
"I just feel like I didn't use my fastball enough like I did my last two starts," Walker said per the Associated Press. "First inning I pounded them with fastballs and got groundballs with it and then the second inning I just felt like I didn't throw the fastball enough. They hit my off-speed, hit my mistakes."
Things only got worse for Walker in the fourth when after allowing the first two hitters to reach base, Jose Altuve cranked a three-run blast.
Walker, now 1-3, ballooned his ERA to 8.74 in 22 2/3 innings. He will look to bounce back Friday against the Athletics.