SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander held up his end of the bargain.Verlander pitched as well as he has all season on Wednesday afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies. He generated 16 whiffs, his second-most in a game this season.
He struck out seven batters and walked none. He averaged 95.1 mph with his four-seam fastball, his highest average velocity since April.
He minimized soft contact, his one true mistake being the solo home run he allowed to Bryce Harper.In sum, Verlander pitched well enough to finally earn his first win of the season — his first win as a Giant. Instead, Verlander will go into the All-Star Break with no victories and seven losses on his résumé after allowing four runs — two earned — over six innings as the Giants were blown out, 13-0, by the Phillies.
Verlander appeared to make a mechanical tweak against the Phillies, one he alluded to following his outing against the Athletics last Friday. Instead of keeping his right hand in his glove at the top of his leg kick, Verlander instead raised his glove to neck-level while keeping his right hand near his chest.The right-hander began his afternoon by retiring the top of the Phillies’ lineup in order, striking out Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper swinging with a pair of beautiful curveball.
On Verlander’s 10th pitch of the afternoon, he touched 96.9 mph with a four-seam fastball, his fourth-hardest pitch of the season.Alec Bohm led off the top of the second with a softly-hit grounder to the in.