Justin Verlander was the epitome of an ace, retiring the final 11 batters he faced, nine...
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander walks back to the dugout after striking out New York Yankees Matt Carpenter, standing two base runners to end the top of the third inning of Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Houston.He gave up just a Harrison Bader home run to lead off the second inning, but all indications were he was going to be in for a short night.
Verlander, who lasted just four innings in Game 1 of the ALDS against Seattle last week, wasn’t about to leave his team hanging again.He said his slider was ‘a little loose” early in the game, but he figured it out. Oh, then there is that 99-mph high heat he is able to reach back for when needed. Like a rope-a-dope, Verlander gave the Yankees’ hope and took it away. They may have thought he was on the ropes, but he never was.
When Verlander hugged manager Dusty Baker in the dugout after the sixth, it was clear his job was done. He left having become the second oldest pitcher to strike out 10 batters in a playoff game, behind Astros legend Nolan Ryan.The nervous energy that you feel in a stadium before a playoff game simply wasn’t there, because the Astros have taken Houston fans to another world.Verlander is the epitome of that. A superb outing is not what he is potentially capable of, it is expected of him.
Yeah, Houston came back to beat the Mariners twice last week at Minute Maid, but reliance on late-game miracles is a recipe for disaster.
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