09/26/26 08:00:00
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09/26 19:58 CDT Justin Verlander makes teary farewell to 21-year career as
Tigers rally to beat Pirates 4-3
Justin Verlander makes teary farewell to 21-year career as Tigers rally to beat
Pirates 4-3
By DAVE HOGG
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) --- Justin Verlander made a teary farewell, accompanied by his
7-year-old daughter as he left a major league mound for the final time in the
Detroit Tigers' 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on
Saturday.
Eduardo Valencia hit a game-ending, two-run homer off Mason Montgomery (6-4) in
a three-run ninth that included Kevin McGonigle's RBI groundout. Valencia
became the first Detroit rookie with a walk-off homer while trailing since Lou
Whitaker on July 28, 1978, according to Major League Baseball.
Verlander allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with one walk and six
strikeouts in his 91-pitch outing. The 43-year-old right-hander was making his
second start of the year and first since March 30 in a season derailed by a
sore hip and hamstring injury.
After Brandon Lowe hit a foul popup starting the sixth, Tigers manager A.J.
Hinch walked from the dugout toward the plate and pointed toward the seats.
Genevieve Verlander, wearing a Tigers jersey with her dad's name and number,
sprinted to the mound and hugged her father, who reached down to embrace her
and started shaking and sobbing.
Verlander finished 266-159 in 557 starts with a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts,
eighth on the career list.
Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead on solo homers by Brandon Lowe in the fourth and
Nick Gonzales.
Javier Bez hit an RBI double in the sixth, and Bryan Reynolds extended
Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1 with a run-scoring triple in the eighth.
Jacob Waguespack (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Pittsburgh (81-80) needs one win for its first winning season since 2018.
The Pirates' Kirby Yates made his first career start after 517 relief
appearances, then said he is retiring. The 39-year-old right-hander allowed two
hits over 1 2/3 innings.
Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz left in the third inning. He fell awkwardly
while trying to field McGonigle's bloop single in the first.
Up next
Tigers RHP River Ryan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Pirates RHP Jared Jones (5-6, 3.87)
start Sunday in the final game before Comerica Park's name changes to Fifth
Third Park for 2027.
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