PHILADELPHIA — Boos echoed throughout Citizens Bank Park on August 28 of last year as Taijuan Walker muscled through six ugly innings against the Houston Astros. He gave up six runs on 13 hits while his season ERA ballooned to 6.50. Walker stayed in the game to save the bullpen in his last start before being demoted to a long reliever himself.
On Thursday night, Walker fared much better in what might’ve been his last turn in the rotation ahead of another potential move to the bullpen. He tossed 5 2/3 solid innings versus the Nationals and left the field to applause from the announced crowd of 37,069.