Imai Tatsuya, pitcher for the Houston Astros, endured a disastrous return to the major leagues on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners. In just four innings of work, the right-hander surrendered six earned runs, walking five batters and hitting another, before being pulled from the game. The most damaging blow came after three consecutive free passes loaded the bases, setting up a grand slam that erased an early Astros lead. Imai had allowed a two-run homer earlier in the contest, but it was his inability to throw strikes that proved most costly. The outing raised fresh concerns about his command and mental resilience after more than a month on the injured list with forearm fatigue. Manager Dusty Baker had hoped Imai could provide a spark, but instead the 26-year-old Japanese import showed he still has significant adjustments to make before he can be a reliable rotation piece.
