Justin Verlander ended his 21-year major league career on Saturday, departing the mound for the final time during the Detroit Tigers’ 4-3 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 43-year-old right-hander pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts in his 91-pitch outing. According to the article, it was Verlander’s second start of the season and his first appearance since March 30, after being sidelined by a sore hip and hamstring injury.
Verlander’s emotional departure came in the sixth inning after Brandon Lowe hit a foul popup. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walked toward the plate and pointed to the seats, signaling the end. Verlander’s 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, wearing a Tigers jersey with her father’s name and number, sprinted to the mound and embraced him. Verlander reached down to hug her and began shaking and sobbing.
Over his 21-year career, Verlander compiled a record of 266-159 across 557 starts with a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts, ranking eighth on the career strikeouts list.
The Tigers rallied in the ninth inning to secure the win. Eduardo Valencia delivered a game-ending two-run homer off Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery (6-4), while Kevin McGonigle contributed an RBI groundout in a three-run ninth-inning explosion.
Pittsburgh had taken an early lead with solo homers from Brandon Lowe in the fourth inning and Nick Gonzales. The Pirates extended their advantage to 3-1 with a run-scoring triple by Bryan Reynolds in the eighth inning. Javier Báez added an RBI double for Detroit in the sixth.
Jacob Waguespack pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win, improving to 2-2.
In a separate noteworthy development, Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz left the game in the third inning after falling awkwardly while trying to field McGonigle’s bloop single in the first inning.
Key facts
- Verlander finished his 21-year career with a 266-159 record, 3.33 ERA, and 3,560 strikeouts (eighth all-time)
- He pitched 5 1/3 innings in his final appearance, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts
- His daughter Genevieve, 7, accompanied him off the field in an emotional farewell moment
- The Tigers defeated the Pirates 4-3 with a three-run ninth-inning rally led by Eduardo Valencia’s game-ending two-run homer
- Verlander had been limited to two starts this season due to hip and hamstring injuries