Verlander setting bar high for starters
Acquired for push into playoffs, righthander has dominated in all four of his appearances
Justin Verlander continues to separate himself as the choice to start Game 1 for the Astros in the American League Division Series.
The AL West champion’s newest ace dominated the Los Angeles Angels for seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory Friday night at Minute Maid Park. Just like in his previous start against the Angels, when he pitched eight scoreless, Verlander allowed one hit — to the first batter he faced.
In four starts for the Astros, Verlander has a 0.64 ERA in 28 innings. His 1.89 ERA since the All-Star break is the best in the majors among qualified starters in that span. Since the late-night Aug. 31 blockbuster that injected him into a pennant race, the former MVP and Cy Young Award winner has allowed 11 hits and five walks.
“It’s remarkable to watch him compete, especially when he has this kind of confidence,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I’m getting to know him as the outings go, but he really did put together an exceptional outing.”
Yuli Gurriel provided Verlander all of the run support he needed when he broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the seventh inning. His goahead blast came just minutes after Marwin Gonzalez was ejected by plate umpire Dan Iassogna for arguing balls and strikes and Hinch followed after sticking up for Gonzalez.
“It’s pretty simple,” Hinch said. “I think he missed a couple calls, and I think a couple of us got (angry).”
Jose Altuve singled and Alex Bregman walked to set up Gurriel’s homer. All three reached against righthander Yusmeiro Petit, the first man out of the Angels’ bullpen after starter Garrett Richards reached his pitch count in six innings.
Richards shut down the Astros for his 85 pitches, his most since April 25, 2016, the date of his second-to-last start before he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Friday’s was Richards’ fifth of this season, his fourth since returning a months-long bout with biceps nerve irritation.
Praise from opponent
“It’s not like we were facing just an average Joe over there,” Richards said. “That guy has plenty of accolades that speak volumes for his time in the big leagues. Any time you go up against a guy like that, you gotta be on your game. That’s what I tried to do tonight.” Before the seventh, the Astros (94-59) managed one hit — a first-inning double off the left-field wall by Josh Reddick. Reddick was pulled from the game after five innings with a sore back. Hinch said after the game he didn’t think the injury warranted concern. Reddick won’t play Saturday, but he was scheduled to be off in the matinee anyway, according to his manager.
Verlander’s outing followed ay similar script to his previous start against the Angels (76-77). On Sept. 12 at Angel Stadium, the 34-year-old righthander allowed a leadoff double to Brandon Phillips and then held the Angels hitless for the subsequent seven innings.
Friday, the hit came off Verlander’s first pitch of the game. Kole Calhoun played the Phillips role, beating an Astros defensive shift with a single to left-center field. Verlander faced only one more than the minimum number of batters the rest of the game. He struck out six and walked two. Of his 99 pitches, 65 were strikes.
“There were some adjustments that I made,” Verlander said of his game plan against the Angels this time around. “I don’t know if you can go out and attack guys exactly the same way every time. I’m still going to go out and pitch to my strengths, but there were a few times here and there where I did things a little bit differently.”
Reaching milestones
Verlander’s seven innings secured his 10th career 200-inning season, each in the last 11 years. He passed Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley for 42nd place on baseball’s all-time strikeouts list with 2,045. And he became the first in Astros history to complete at least six innings and allow one or zero runs in each of his first four starts.
“It’s nice to be pitching well, but the playoffs are around the corner,” he said. “We’re still fighting for the best record, so it’s nice to have an impact that way. It’s nice to get wins. It’s nice to pitch well. But I think we’re all getting ready for the next level.”