ESPN News Services September 26, 2023, 12:26am ET5 minutes read
Justin Verlander struck out the side in the 4th inning
Justin Verlander struck out the fourth inning en route to an eight-inning, eight-strikeout game for the Astros.
SEATTLE — In a season where he said nothing was easy, Justin Verlander picked the right moment to look like the star he was for most of his career again.
Perfect timing for Verlander. Perfect timing for the Houston Astros.
Verlander pitched a shutout in the ninth inning, allowing just three hits and working his way out of the one jam he faced, and the Astros gained some cushion with a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night the American League playoff pursuit.
Verlander turned in a classy performance that befitted his status as one of the game’s best right-handed hitters for most of his career. He was close to his first complete game since 2019 when he failed to hit Toronto, but manager Dusty Baker retired Verlander after Josh Rojas led off with a double in the ninth inning.
Still, Verlander did his part with a performance that Houston needed after being defeated at home by Kansas City over the weekend. The Astros extended their lead to 1½ games over Seattle and secured the final wild card in the American League. Houston also remained 2½ behind Texas in the AL West.
“This is just one of those years where nothing was easy,” Verlander said. “Maybe you’re timing this right and hopefully this can be the start of something.”
Rojas’ double snapped, Verlander’s line of 16 batters retired, but the Astros were well on their way to the win they needed before the line broke. Verlander (12-8) had eight strikeouts, one walk and threw 96 pitches.
“I’ve obviously been feeling a bit unwell, so I’m happy about the chance to go out there and get one [complete game shutout]Verlander said. “It didn’t work out, but that’s okay.”
It was his 56th career game in which he did not allow more than one earned run over more than eight innings, making Cliff Lee the fourth-most appearances in the last 20 seasons behind Félix Hernández (71), Clayton Kershaw (63) and Roy Halladay Kind has (57).
Seattle lost its fourth straight, its seventh in ten games. The Mariners also fell four games behind Texas in the division.
“All these losses suck right now, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Seattle shortstop JP Crawford said. “We have to keep our heads up, look on the bright side and prepare for tomorrow.”
Houston didn’t need much offense, but managed a big two-out rally against Seattle starter Luis Castillo (14-8), who scored three runs in the second inning. The Astros provided additional cushion with long solo home runs from Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Alvarez’s home run was his 30th of the season and he led off in the third inning. Tucker’s home run in the sixth gave him 110 RBIs, the most in the AL.
In his first start against Seattle since last year’s AL Division Series, Verlander faced traffic on the bases just once. Seattle loaded the bases with one out in the third inning after singles by Dominic Canzone and Rojas and a walk against Crawford. But Verlander got Julio Rodriguez out before a curveball and Seattle’s young All-Star grounded in a double play to end the threat.
“If it becomes a double play, that’s great, that was great,” Verlander said. “But one of the best hitters in baseball, in that situation you try to get him out and not let the inning cascade and get away from you.”
Verlander didn’t allow another baserunner until Rojas caught him in the ninth. Rojas scored on Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly to end the shutout.
The Mariners had won 10 straight games started by Castillo, but he suffered his first loss since July 14. Castillo pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and five runs and striking out eight.
“I thought Luis Castillo’s stuff was as good as we’ve seen all year,” Seattle coach Scott Servais said. “Unfortunately, he made a few errors in the middle of the plate there in the second inning with the fastball.”
Castillo was one hit away from leaving the inning, but Mauricio Dubón delivered a 2-2 fastball to center field, where José Abreu scored. Martín Maldonado and Jose Altuve each followed with an RBI single, and within six pitches, a scoreless game turned into a 3-0 lead for Houston.
“It was great to put up a false number and finally get a lead,” Baker said.
Verlander made his 38th career start against Seattle and was the third time he pitched at least seven shutout innings against the Mariners. Verlander’s eight strikeouts were the second most he had in a game this season.
Verlander won his 256th career game, tying him with Andy Pettitte for 42nd all-time.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.