The Houston Astros fell to the Seattle Mariners on Monday in Houston, with Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai struggling badly in his return to the mound after about a month off the big-league roster.
Imai was pulled after just four innings, charged with six earned runs. The damage came in the worst possible way: every batter he put on base via a walk or hit-by-pitch was later driven in on a home run. The Mariners also ran wild on the bases, completing two perfectly executed stolen bases against him, fueling chatter that Imai’s pitch tells may have been picked up by the opposition.
It was a nightmarish outing for the 28-year-old, who failed to settle in and never found a rhythm. The Astros defense offered little help, but the primary concern was Imai’s inability to keep runners from scoring—and the ease with which Seattle’s hitters connected with the long ball.
Speculation is already mounting about whether Imai’s mechanical “tells” have been exposed at the big-league level, with some local media suggesting his pickoff and secondary moves may need a complete overhaul. The Astros will hope this outing is merely a setback in his adjustment back to MLB action.
