Stottlemyre credits Walker’s willingness to adjust

ANAHEIM — Any time a coach helps an athlete make an adjustment that leads to a significant improvement, that’s a banner moment. So it was that Mariners pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. looked like a proud papa after Taijuan Walker’s first career shutout in Tuesday night’s 8-0 win over the Angels.

Walker’s struggles this season led to an agreement 10 days ago to undergo a makeover of his delivery, a bigger hip turn and longer stride to help get more leg drive into his pitches.

And after one fairly disjointed step forward in his first start with the new motion, Walker looked like a man unleashed against the Angels as he allowed just three singles with no walks and 11 strikeouts in a dominant performance.

“Anytime you make changes like that, especially at this time of year, there’s a risk, but the reward is what we all saw [Tuesday night],” Stottlemyre said. “He got a handle on it and it translated into his pitches and execution. His stuff was better. He had a better breaking ball, tighter spin on it. Had more bottom to his split. His fastball command was outstanding. I was so happy and proud.”

Stottlemyre, who joined the Mariners this season to work with new manager Scott Servais, said Walker came to him after giving up three home runs and six runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Angels on Aug. 2 and said he was ready to do whatever needed to be done.

“He was down,” Stottlemyre said. “It’s hard to admit you’re lost and searching, but he was. He has a lot of pride and he sat on that bench after getting his butt kicked and buried his head. As a coach, you don’t ever like to see …

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