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Reporting from ORACLE PARK
Justin Verlander doesn’t look like he’s riding off into the sunset just yet. The nine-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer struck out seven over six innings Saturday afternoon at Oracle Park, picking up career win No. 266 as the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3.
Verlander (W, 4-11, 3.85 ERA) allowed two runs on five hits in what could have been his final game in black and orange.
After the game, Verlander said he hadn’t thought much about that possibility:
“I’ve been scratching and clawing just trying to find anything to be successful and pitch well for the San Francisco Giants. I’m going to enjoy this game and watch [Logan] Webb tomorrow go out there and lock up a couple of big things for him. I’ll sit down with my family and talk to them in the offseason.”
Verlander has been a workhorse, a noble steed with accolades most big leaguers can only dream about. MLB’s active leader in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched, he now owns 3,500-plus strikeouts, three Cy Young Awards, one MVP, and at age 42 posted a 3.85 ERA across 29 starts this season.
Manager Bob Melvin praised the veteran:
“He keeps himself in great condition, he’s a horse and he ends up with 29 starts this year and brings his ERA down [under four], which is pretty remarkable. Typically this season when he’s come out of close games, we haven’t been able to hold it. We barely did today but it was nice to get him a win.”
Colorado struck first with a pair of solo homers — Hunter Goodman in the first and Brenton Doyle in the second.
San Francisco answered right away. Matt Chapman walked, Wilmer Flores singled, and Casey Schmitt blasted a 422-foot, three-run homer to center for a 3-2 lead. It was Schmitt’s 12th of the year and 40th RBI.
Rafael Devers added run support in the eighth with an RBI double, his 108th, scoring Andrew Knizner to make it 4-2. That run proved critical.
After Verlander left, the Giants bullpen worked the final three innings. Joel Peguero and Tristan Beck were clean, but Ryan Walker gave up a 432-foot homer to Jordan Beck in the ninth and left with two on. Spencer Bivens entered and closed it with two outs for his second save.
Melvin said:
“Look, Biv’s (Bivens) has done any number of roles we have asked him to. Whether it’s length, or in this case closing a game, over his two years here he’s been pretty versatile for us and he came up big here for us today.”
Colorado starter Kyle Freeland (L, 5-17, 4.98 ERA) went six innings, allowing Schmitt’s decisive blast.
With their third straight win, the Giants pulled their record at 80-81, tied with Arizona for third in the NL West. They will try to finish .500 for the third straight season on Sunday. The Rockies fell to 43-118, closing on a five-game losing streak.
Up Next
Logan Webb (14-11, 3.30 ERA) starts the season finale Sunday at 12:05 p.m. against Colorado’s McCade Brown (0-4, 7.54 ERA).
