Verlander Still Searching for First Win with Giants
CHICAGO — Justin Verlander remains in pursuit of his first victory as a member of the San Francisco Giants after another solid but winless outing against the Chicago Cubs. The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner pitched five innings, leaving the game with a 5-3 lead that the bullpen ultimately preserved for a 14-5 win in extra innings.
Performance Overview
In his latest start, Verlander delivered five innings of competitive pitching, allowing five hits along with three strikeouts and two walks. However, a pivotal two-run homer by Miguel Amaya shifted the momentum, allowing the Cubs to claw back after Verlander had initially set the Giants up with a 4-0 lead in the third inning.
Manager’s Comments
After the game, Giants manager Bob Melvin expressed his frustration over the missed opportunity for Verlander, pointing out that the veteran could easily have secured several wins by now. “It’s crazy, because he could easily have four or five wins at this point,” Melvin remarked. “He’s performing well, even if the wins aren’t reflecting that.”
Verlander’s Reflections
Verlander, who signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Giants in January, remains focused on his overall contributions rather than the win-loss record. “I’m somebody who really tries to focus on the big picture,” he explained. “Just try to keep pitching well and giving us a chance to win, and wins can come in bunches.”
Recent Struggles
This ongoing winless streak marks the longest drought of Verlander’s career at any point over his two decades in Major League Baseball. In his first eight starts for the Giants, he faced two losses and has struggled with run support despite maintaining a 1.96 ERA over his last three outings.
Career Achievements
Throughout his career, Verlander boasts an impressive record of 262 wins against 149 losses with a career ERA of 3.31 across 534 starts. He currently leads active big league pitchers in wins, innings pitched (3,457.2), strikeouts (3,451), and overall starts (534).
Looking Ahead
Despite the initial setbacks, Verlander remains optimistic about his performance and the season ahead. “I’ve been kind of working my way towards being better and better,” he noted. “We’ve still got a lot of starts left. It’s really early.”
