Tigers win Verlander’s last start of career 4-3 with a walk-off from Valencia against the Pirates
The story of the day was Verlander, but Valencia capped it off with a walk-off two-run homer.
Justin Verlander made a strong 5.1-inning start, throwing 91 pitches with six strikeouts to end his future Hall of Fame career. He left the game down 2-0, but the Detroit Tigers (76-85) wouldn’t let it end that way. Eduardo Valencia hit a two-run walk-off homer in a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates (81-80).
Verlander gave the fans something to cheer for in the second inning. He struck out Oneil Cruz for his first strikeout, bringing a loud eruption from the fans.
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning.
Brandon Lowe gave the Pirates the lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run on a first-pitch fastball.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the third and fourth innings, but couldn’t get any runs across home plate.
Jacob Gonzalez extended the Pirates’ lead with another solo home run to make the score 2-0.
Verlander came out to pitch the sixth inning, and that was to get the proper respect and ovation he deserved. On his 91st pitch of the game, he got Brandon Lowe to foul out to catcher Dillon Dingler.
That was his last pitch of his illustrious career.
Tiger manager A.J. Hinch then walked out and motioned towards the opposing dugout. That is where Genevieve Verlander, his daughter, was waiting to come walk to the mound and take the ball from her dad for the last time. His wife, Kate Upton, and son, Bellamy, were waiting for him as he walked off, tipped his cap, and waved to the crowd.
The Tigers scored a run in the sixth inning thanks to a Javy Baez double that scored Spencer Torkelson.
The Pirates added one more run in the eighth inning. Henry Davis singled, then scored on a triple from Bryan Reynolds, pushing the lead to 3-1.
The Tigers didn’t want Justin to lose the last game he pitched.
Max Clark singled to left, Hao-Yu Lee doubled to right, and all of a sudden, the Tigers were threatening. Kevin McGonigle grounded out to second base, which scored Clark, bringing the Tigers within a run.
Valencia wasn’t looking to tie the game.
Valencia got down 0-2 in the count quickly, then watched one ball, one more foul ball, and then he hit a curveball 400-feet to win the game 4-3 in dramatic fashion.
Fitting for the future first ballot Hall of Famer Justin Verlander.
