Phillies, Taijuan Walker lose to Nationals after rough first inning

Taijuan Walker gave up a lot of contact on Monday. (Madeline Ressler/Phillies Nation)

Taijuan Walker struggled in his first start of the season on Monday as the Phillies lost to the Nationals, 13-2. Walker’s night, which concluded after allowing seven runs in 4 2/3 innings, got off to a rough start that he and his team didn’t recover from.

Walker faced 10 batters and allowed four runs on five hits in the first inning. The Nationals put one hard-hit ball in play in the frame — a groundout to Walker by Brady House.