Verlander Finds Form, Giants Extend Season in Extra Innings
PHOENIX - Justin Verlander delivered a much-needed strong performance, leading teh San Francisco Giants to a crucial extra-innings victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks and extending their season. After a challenging first four months,Verlander showcased improved mechanics and pitch command in a game where both teams battled through offensive struggles.
Verlander acknowledged the difficult start to his season, calling it “one of the more frustrating, if not the most frustrating first four months of the season in my career.” However, he emphasized his ability to adapt, stating, “You don’t get to this point in your career and have been around this long without adapting and always trying to find it when things aren’t right.”
Giants manager Bob Melvin observed a noticeable improvement in Verlander’s pitching. “All the pitching numbers are up,” Melvin said.”Maybe not the best (velocity) today, but his delivery is more sound. He knows where everything’s going. He’s using all his pitches. He’s got three different breaking balls now, he has the changeup, usually there’s a few more strikeouts.” While Verlander walked two batters – a rarity recently - Melvin noted his overall confidence, adding, “He’s pitching with a lot of confidence and he knows that we need him. Guys like that step up when you need them.”
Defensively, the Giants were bolstered by a standout performance from center fielder Drew Gilbert. Gilbert made a crucial catch on a deep drive by Jake McCarthy in the fifth inning, saving a run. He finished the game with eight putouts, coming within two of Willie Mays’ franchise record for a nine-inning game, and made several challenging plays without needing to leave his feet. Verlander praised Gilbert’s effort, admitting, “I gotta be honest, when I first looked up and saw where he was playing, I didn’t think he was gonna catch it. It was a great route, a great read. He made some great plays.”
Despite Verlander’s strong outing, the Giants’ offense struggled, going 15 consecutive innings without advancing a runner into scoring position. The drought began after Wilmer Flores’s home run in the third inning Tuesday night and continued through the first nine innings of Wednesday’s game against Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Pfaadt allowed only one hit – a sixth-inning single by Gilbert - and completed nine shutout innings, allowing one hit or fewer, but did not receive a win. He joined an exclusive group of 18 pitchers in modern major league history to achieve this feat, the first since Carlos Carrasco in 2015.
The Diamondbacks threatened to win in the ninth, getting the winning run to third base on Corbin Carroll’s one-out triple. However, giants reliever Ryan Walker struck out Adrian Del Castillo and induced a game-ending forceout on a bases-loaded ground ball, avoiding a repeat of the previous night’s misfortune.
The game ultimately went to extra innings, where the automatic runner rule came into play. Neither team scored with their placed runner, and Giants right-hander Joel Peguero secured the win with two ground outs in the 10th and a stress-free 11th inning.
The article concludes by questioning the value of the pitcher win statistic, suggesting there are more effective ways to measure a pitcher’s contribution. Verlander himself summed up the importance of perseverance, stating, “The results are what you see. I’m glad I didn’t give up.”
