UPDATE: In a stunning performance, Justin Verlander clinched his 265th career win after a grueling 121-pitch effort, leading the San Francisco Giants to a dominant 13-2 victory against the Baltimore Orioles earlier today. This marks a crucial turning point in Verlander’s challenging season.
Verlander, at 42 years old, dazzled fans and critics alike with 10 strikeouts in just five scoreless innings at Oracle Park. As the Giants surged to a 7-0 lead in the fifth inning, manager Bob Melvin made the bold decision to keep Verlander on the mound, despite his escalating pitch count. Verlander triumphed in finishing the inning by striking out both Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle, solidifying his third win of the year.
“This is a day when you feel like you’re penalizing someone if they throw 100 pitches. To throw 120 in five innings, he didn’t want to hear anything about coming out of the game,” Melvin stated, emphasizing the veteran’s tenacity. This performance ranks as the second-most pitches thrown in the majors this season, following Gavin Williams of Cleveland, who threw 126 pitches on August 6.
Despite a season record of 3-10, Verlander successfully lowered his ERA to 4.29. This outing marks his first double-digit strikeout game since August 23, 2022, and his first back-to-back wins since joining the Giants. Earlier in the week, he also defeated the Chicago Cubs, showcasing a resurgence in form after a challenging start to the season.
“It’s hard for me because, especially the old school in me, it’s only five innings,” Verlander reflected post-game. “I’m not sure I go home and say that was a great start. At the end of the day, I think they did a great job battling off good pitches and fouling off stuff.”
Verlander’s remarkable ability to push through fatigue not only highlights his resilience but also serves as an inspiration to younger players navigating the rigors of professional baseball. This performance underlines his status as a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and fans are eager to see if he can maintain this momentum.
With the Giants finding their stride, all eyes will be on Verlander as they head into the next series. Will he continue this impressive form? Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
