Verlander Powers Giants to Victory in Grueling 121-Pitch Outing
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – August 31, 2025 – Justin Verlander, a veteran still defying Father Time, delivered a vintage performance Sunday night, leading the San Francisco Giants to a decisive 13-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The 42-year-old right-hander gutted out five scoreless innings, striking out 10, in a remarkable display of endurance that required a staggering 121 pitches.
The win,Verlander’s third of the season adn the 265th of his illustrious career,wasn’t simply about the final score. It was a testament to his competitive fire and a willingness to push his limits, even in a modern baseball landscape increasingly focused on pitch counts.
With the Giants comfortably ahead 7-0, manager Bob Melvin allowed Verlander to continue pitching deep into the fifth inning, culminating in strikeouts of Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle. ”In a day 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 explained to the San Francisco Chronicle. “There’s a lot to learn from him.”
Verlander’s pitch count was the second-highest in MLB this season,trailing only Cleveland’s Gavin Williams,who threw 126 pitches against the New york mets earlier this month while carrying a no-hitter into the ninth.
Despite a challenging season that saw him begin the year 0-8, Verlander has now won back-to
