Verlander pitches final rehab outing

FRISCO — Astros ace Justin Verlander pitched four innings Saturday night for Double-a Corpus Christi in what is expected to be his final minor league rehab outing before rejoining Houston’s rotation.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner gave up six runs — five earned — and seven hits against the Frisco Roughriders, a Texas Rangers affiliate. He struck out three, walked one and threw 51 of 77 pitches for strikes.

The 41-year-old Verlander opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Verlander was charged with two wild pitches and two pitch-clock violations. He needed 42 pitches to get through the third as Frisco, aided by two Corpus Christi errors, scored six runs in the inning. But the righthander retired his final five batters in a 10-3 loss before a crowd of 11,622 at Riders Field.

Verlander allowed six earned runs and struck out six while pitching into the fourth inning of his first rehabilitation start Sunday for Triple-a Sugar Land. He threw 65 pitches in that game.

Mets retire Gooden’s No. 16

Dwight Gooden still knows how to work a crowd.

Honored by the New York Mets with the retirement of his No. 16 on Sunday, the four-time All-star recounted how his career in Queens was cut short by drugs and alcohol, forcing him to sign across town ahead of the 1996 season.

“I wanted to stay to make things right with you guys. I didn’t want to leave on the note that I did,” Gooden told the fans, “Unfortunately, they thought it was best that we go separate ways. I was lucky enough to stay in New York, play with the New York Yankees for two years, ‘96 and ’97.”

The Citi Field crowd booed the mention of the Mets’ crosstown rival, and Gooden shook his head while putting his left hand over his heart.

“I’m always a Met. I’m not saying nothing. I’m always a Met. I’m always a Met,” he said, prompting cheers.