USATSI_18736231 — Lindsey Wasson-USA TODAY Sports

Verlander Picks Up 20th Career Win Against Mariners as Astros Win Series

Justin Verlander pitched seven strong innings en route to the Houston Astros' fourth consecutive win.

Author:
Kenny Van Doren
Publish date:
Jul 24, 2022 12:00 PM EDT

In this story:

Houston Astros

The records continues to break. The vintage note to every Justin Verlander outing doesn't.

The Houston Astros' ace demonstrated as much on Saturday, as he picked up his 20th career win against the Seattle Mariners.

Verlander worked six scoreless frames on only 69 pitches to open his first start of the second half. With an overworked bullpen behind him, the righty's efficiency looked to carry him into the eighth or even the ninth inning.

But the Mariners attempted to spoil Verlander's mastery in the seventh. With one out in the inning, Carlos Santana cut the deficit with a solo slam to right field, marking the sixth Mariners home run off Verlander in 2022 and the end to Verlander's streak of 15 consecutive outs.

Verlander worked a 1-2 count to Eugenio Suárez and thought he struck out the third baseman on a curveball at the bottom of the zone. It was ruled a ball, and Suárez walked three pitches later, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in Adam Frazier.

Frazier singled and advanced Suárez to third, before stealing second with no throw. With two runners in scoring position, Verlander punched out catcher Cal Raleigh on a 99.2 mph fastball atop the zone — his fastest strikeout pitch since July 21, 2018, per David Adler of MLB.

Verlander also became the second pitcher (after Billy Wagner in 2010) age 39 or older to hit 99+ mph in the pitch-tracking era. With two outs, however, the veteran's command wavered, and he walked pinch-hitter Kyle Lewis.

But as Seattle roared, Verlander responded louder. The 39-year-old punched out Sam Haggerty on a 97.4 mph heater to close out the seventh. He allowed one run, four hits, two walks and recorded nine strikeouts.

After the Astros' bullpen was taxed in a doubleheader Thursday and in a high-leverage game on Friday, Parker Mushinski was tasked with the eighth inning in his first appearance since he was activated from the injured list two days ago.

Mushinski tossed a scoreless frame on four pitches, inducing a fly out and then an inning-ending double play after hitting Ty France. Bryan Abreu took the ninth to seal the series for the Astros on his first save of the year.

Houston Astros First Baseman Yuli Gurriel and Designated Hitter Yordan Álvarez
Lindsey Wasson-USA TODAY Sports

The Astros added two runs behind Verlander in the fourth inning with two outs. Kyle Tucker doubled home Yordan Álvarez from first, before Yuli Gurriel followed with his own RBI knock to drive Tucker home.

José Altuve and Jeremy Peña slapped back-to-back singles to open the eighth frame. Altuve scored on a wild pitch two batters later, scoring Houston’s third and final run of the day.

Jake Meyers was hit by a 96 mph sinker on his left elbow in the ninth inning. The center fielder stayed in the contest but was pulled before the bottom of the inning for Mauricio Dubón.

The Astros look for the sweep at 3:10 p.m. Sunday in a lefty dual between Framber Valdez and Robbie Ray.