Mariners pitching prospect Taijuan Walker managed the level of performance Sunday for Triple-A Tacoma that the big league club has been waiting for.
Walker struck out a career-high 13 in a 2-1 victory. He retired 17 straight Fresno batters at one point and threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes.
"Walker just pitched his rear end off, I mean holy mackerel," Rainiers manager Roy Howell told the Tacoma News-Tribune. "After the first inning he just settled down and went after them."