Justin Verlander’s gem wasted in loss – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — It feels like every night there’s a new stunning stat about how dire things have gotten for the Giants. Here was Saturday’s: For the first time since 2008, they’ve lost six straight series at Oracle Park.

This series loss was clinched when the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for two runs in the eighth and held on for a 2-1 win. The Giants have lost seven straight games and 15 of their last 16 at home. This is just the second time in Oracle Park history that they’ve dropped six consecutive home series, although for seven innings Saturday, things were trending up. 

Justin Verlander has had truly unbelievable luck in his attempt to get closer to 300 career wins. He had some rough times in the first half, but he generally has pitched well in recent weeks, and he wasn’t rewarded Saturday for his best start as a Giant. 

Verlander threw seven shutout innings and left with a 1-0 lead, but three straight two-out hits off José Buttó and Brandon Lowe put the Rays on top in the top of the eighth. It was the sixth time that the bullpen blew a lead for Verlander, who also has received the second-worst run support in baseball. 

Climbing the Charts

Walter Johnson began his career in 1907, so perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that there’s some confusion about his stats. MLB.com has Johhnson at 3,508 career strikeouts, Baseball-Reference has him at 3,509 and Elias Sports Bureau has him at 3,515.

That meant Verlander either passed or approached Johnson on Saturday, depending on which statistical group you trust most. On the scoreboard the Giants went with Baseball-Reference, and Verlander got a nice ovation when he reached 3,510 in the fifth inning. 

Verlander finished with eight strikeouts, getting to 3,511 for his career. Next up after Johnson is Giants Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry, who is eighth all-time with 3,534. Verlander also isn’t far from No. 7 Don Sutton (3,574). 

Hall Of Fame Company

For a moment, it looked like Verlander would join another impressive list. There have been just six 42-year-olds in MLB history to reach double-digit strikeouts in a game and it’s a group of legends: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Gaylord Perry, Rich Hill and Steve Carlton. Verlander’s season-high is nine and he came up just short Saturday.

He did, however, join some of those Hall-of-Famers on another list. Verlander allowed just two hits in his seven scoreless innings and struck out eight, something that has only been done 11 times in MLB history by a pitcher who is 42 or older. Ryan did it five times, Clemens did it three times and Johnson did it twice. 

Third Guy At Third

The Giants put Matt Chapman on the IL on Friday and then watched backup third baseman Casey Schmitt get drilled. Schmitt’s X-rays came back negative and he could be back as soon as Sunday, but the sequence forced Koss to move across the diamond on Saturday. 

Koss made an early error, but the run didn’t score. He more than made up for it in the sixth. 

With two on and two outs, Koss pulled a low fastball under third baseman Junior Caminero’s glove to push the game’s first run across. It was a rare hit with a runner in scoring position for a struggling lineup, but right now Koss is as trustworthy as anyone. 

The rookie has back-to-back multi hit games and is 6-for-19 since coming off the IL. Koss is hitting .274 and quietly putting together a very solid first big league season. 

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