Verlander saluted back at Comerica, earns win

Justin Verlander knew this would be one of the most emotional games of his major league career.

He still wasn’t prepared. In his return to Detroit, Verlander received three standing ovations while pitching the Houston Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Tigers on Monday.

Verlander (15-9) made his major league debut with the Tigers in 2005 and ranks among the top 10 on several of the team’s career lists. He struck out 10 over seven innings in his first time on the Comerica Park mound since being traded to Houston in August 2017.

“Our hotel is right near my old house, so I got to spend some time in the neighborhood today,” he said. “I was trying to keep my routine as much as possible.”

That hope ended early, as the scoreboard played a tribute video as Verlander was walking in from the bullpen after his pregame warmups. He stopped, alone in shallow right-center field, and watched the entire show.

“It was almost normal until the tribute video, but that really got to me,” he said. “I had a lot of great memories in my 13 years here, and that brought it all back. I wanted to get to the dugout before it started, but once it started playing, I had to watch.” BREWERS 3, CUBS 2 >> Lorenzo Cain had four hits, Mike Moustakas scored on Carl Edwards Jr.’s wild pitch in the sixth inning and visiting Milwaukee edged Chicago to pull within one game of the NL Central leaders.

ROCKIES 13, DIAMONDBACKS 2 >> Trevor Story hit a three-run homer during a six-run fifth inning, German Marquez struck out 11 over seven masterful innings, and Colorado routed Arizona in Denver to increase its lead in the NL West. The Rockies moved 1½ games ahead of the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks now trail by 3½ games.