SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander added one other memorable chapter to his legendary pitching profession Sunday, but was hardly within the temper to have fun.
Verlander struck out the aspect within the first inning in opposition to the Nationals to grow to be the tenth pitcher in MLB historical past to succeed in 3,500 profession strikeouts. Not lengthy after, issues started to unravel for the three-time Cy Younger Award winner because the Giants dropped an 8-0 decision to Washington in entrance of 40,000 followers at Oracle Park.
Washington scored 4 occasions within the second inning and 5 total on 11 hits in opposition to Verlander within the motor vehicles outing in what has been a season-long wrestle for the 42-year-old.
“I used to be blissful to get there, blissful to have a second with the followers,” mentioned Verlander, who’s 1-9 in 20 begins with the Giants and has a 4.53 ERA. “Cool milestone. I actually respect what it is taken to get there.”
Verlander hasn’t given the Giants a lot to have fun this season, although he had been in one of the best stretch of the season earlier than getting roughed up Sunday. In his three earlier video games, Verlander had a 0.60 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 15 innings.
He completed with six strikeouts in opposition to the Nationals, however spent most of his postgame media session targeted on his season slightly than the three,500 strikeouts.
Although acknowledging frustration about his 2025 outcomes, Verlander likened his performances to the 2022 marketing campaign, when he went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA with the Houston Astros en path to successful his third Cy Younger.
“Stuff’s nice, stuff’s tremendous,” Verlander mentioned. “I’ve spent plenty of the season taking a look at comparables. It is proper on par, actually virtually up and down the board, with [2022] after I received the Cy Younger. So, I feel the stuff is simply tremendous. The outcomes have been irritating.”
With 3,503 profession strikeouts after Sunday’s outing, Verlander trails Walter Johnson by 11 strikeouts for ninth most on the all-time listing.
The Related Press contributed to this report.