Chris Iannetta Hits Two Homers, Taijuan Walker Excels In Mariners’ 5-0 Win Over Indians

Taijuan Walker threw eight scoreless innings for a career-high-tying 11 strikeouts and catcher Chris Ianetta went 3-for-3 with two homers and four RBIs to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 5-0 home win on Wednesday night, their second consecutive victory over the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field. The Mariners defeated the Indians 7-1 on Tuesday.

Chris Iannetta Hits Two Homers, Taijuan Walker Excels In Mariners’ 5-0 Win Over Indians

“It was just being more intense and having that edge, just going right after them with the fastball and keeping it the whole game,” Walker said after picking up his first win since April.

With their win over the American League Central-leading Indians, the Mariners improved to 33-26. Walker gave up three hits with no walks, thus snapping a string of seven starts without a win, including six losses, to improve to 3-6 and a 3.48 ERA on the season.

“We hadn’t seen that Taijuan since April,” manager Scott Servais said. “I’m really, really happy for him. He was very aggressive, attacking with the fastball at the upper edges of the strike zone. And he’s tough to hit, especially in this ballpark.”

Walker, 23, didn’t elaborate much on what triggered his strong start on Wednesday, but credited some mechanical changes.

“The last couple starts I wasn’t using my legs enough and my (velocity) was down because of it,” he said. “It was just being more intense and having that edge, just going right after them with the fastball and keeping it the whole game.”

Ianetta also contributed much of the run support. The catcher had three extra-base hits in three at-bats, and drove in four runs for his best game as a Mariner. Ianetta belted two home runs off Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco– a two-run blast in the third inning and a solo homer into the left-field upper deck in the fourth– in his first two at-bats.

Then in the seventh, with Ketel Marte on third base, the Seattle catcher hit an RBI double off reliever Zach McAllister over the head of center fielder Rajai Davis. It was only the second time in his career that he had three extra-base hits in a game.

Right-hander Carrasco, in his second start since coming off the disabled list after a hamstring injury, allowed five hits and four runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Mariners right fielder Franklin Gutierrez crashed into the right-field wall to haul in Juan Uribe’s deep drive for the final out of the seventh inning. Walker praised the 2010 Gold Glove winner, who has been limited to spot duties in right field the past two years after dealing with his ankylosing spondylitis nerve condition.

“His instincts in the outfield have always been great,” Servais said of the Venezuelan. “Obviously he doesn’t move quite like he did a few years ago before he got hurt, but his routes, his feel for the outfield and where he’s at on the wall … great catch. Fun to see.”

Walker was still throwing 97 mph in the eighth inning. His final pitch — an elevated 95 mph fastball — struck out Michael Martinez to tie his career high in strikeouts in a game.

Indians reliever Joba Chamberlain, activated off the DL before the game, came on in the eighth to pitch for the first time since May 21. He hit Seth Smith, the first batter he faced, with a pitch, and Robinson Cano followed with a double to right.

The two teams will face off in their four-game series (which Seattle leads 2-1) finale at Safeco Field on Thursday night. Right-hander Josh Tomlin (8-1, 3.54 ERA) will start for the Indians (32-26, 1st in AL Central), while right-hander Nathan Karns (5-2, 4.23 ERA) will start for the Mariners (33-26, 2nd in AL West).

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 08: Chris Iannetta #33 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Indians in the third inning at Safeco Field on June 8, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)