SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker threw a career-high 118 pitches Monday over seven innings against Houston after throwing what had been a career-high 110 pitches on April 20 in his previous start at Cleveland.
Manager Scott Servais isn’t planning to rein in Walker any time soon.
“The gloves are off,” Servais said. “We do want to let him go. That’s part of developing players at the major-league level, to have a feel for when to let them go … and let them see who they can be.
“We’re not going to let him go 150 pitches. We’re going to be smarter than that. But there comes a time where he’s throwing the ball great, his stuff is not dropping off, let’s ride it.”
Walker is 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA over 25 innings in his four starts with 25 strikeouts and three walks. His April ERA is the second-best mark in franchise history for a pitcher with at least four starts.
Floyd Bannister had a 1.21 ERA in April 1980.
Television revenue
The Mariners are in line to generate $76 million this season in local television revenue, according to estimates published by www.Fangraphs.com.
That ranks fifth among 30 clubs, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers ($204 million), Los Angeles Angels ($118 million), New York Yankees ($98 million) and Boston Red Sox ($80 million).
The Mariners’ deal with Root Sports Northwest, of which it owns 71 percent, began in 2014 and calls for $1.8 billion over 18 years through 2031.
View from the top
When the Mariners, at 10-9, began Tuesday in first place, it marked the latest in the season that they’ve been atop the American League West Division since May 5, 2009.
“I’ve gotten more text messages today saying that we’re in first place,” Servais said. “We’re playing well, but let’s be realistic. We’re 19 games into it. I would much rather be in first than on the other side of it.
“I’d say, right now, our pitching has carried us to this point. We’ve had some nice offensive days. Once it all gets clicking, then you have a chance to really put a (streak together and) win nine out of 10.
“I’m not really looking at the standings at this point.”
Six straight strikeouts
When Walker struck out the last six batters he faced in Monday’s 3-2 victory Houston, he came within one strikeout of a club record.
Lefty Mark Langston struck out seven straight batters on June 15, 1984 in a 4-3 victory over Texas at the Kingdome. Langston struck out 12 in all that day but got a no-decision when the M’s won 4-3 in 10 innings.
Seven other Mariners registered six straight strikeouts in club history. The last to do it before Walker was lefty reliever Charlie Furbush on Sept. 19, 2011 in a start at Cleveland. The Mariners rallied for a 12-6 victory in that game.
Others to do it: Felix Hernandez (2008), Rafael Soriano (2003) and Randy Johnson on four occasions (1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998).
Minor details
Double-A Jackson outfielder Tyler O’Neill, through Monday, had reached base safely in all 17 games. He was batting .303 with four home runs and 12 RBI.
O’Neill, 20, was a co-recipient last year as the organization’s minor-league player of the year after batting .260 with 32 homers and 87 RBI in 106 games at Hi-A Bakersfield.
The Mariners selected O’Neill in the third round of the 2013 draft.
Looking back
It was 21 years ago Wednesday — April 27, 1995 — that Randy Johnson, Bill Risley and Bobby Ayala combined for a 3-0 victory over Detroit at the Kingdome.
It was the first shutout victory on opening day in Mariners’ history and started the club toward its first postseason berth. The start of the season was delayed by a labor dispute.
Ken Griffey Jr. accounted for all of the runs with a three-run into the third deck in the fifth inning against Tigers starter Sean Bergman.
Short hops
Center fielder Leonys Martin, a left-handed hitter, got a break Tuesday when the Mariners faced Houston lefty Dallas Keuchel. Manager Scott Servais said left fielder Nori Aoki (who started Tuesday in center) will also likely get a day off on this homestand. Further, second baseman Robinson Cano will likely serve one game as a DH. … Cano collected his 998 career RBI in Monday’s victory over the Astros. … On Wednesday, it will be 88 days until Griffey is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. … Another reminder: Saturday’s game against Kansas City will start at 7:10 p.m. That’s one hour later than previously scheduled.
On tap
The Mariners and Astros conclude their three-game series at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday at Safeco Field. Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2 with a 3.81 ERA) will face Houston right-hander Collin McHugh (1-3, 7.56).
The game can be seen on Root Sports Northwest and heard on 710 ESPN.
After an open date Thursday, the Mariners complete their homestand with three weekend games against Kansas City. Note that Saturday’s game has a revised start time of 7:10 p.m.
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