UPDATE: Justin Verlander has finally broken his winless streak, achieving his first victory in an astonishing 17th start as the San Francisco Giants triumphed over the Atlanta Braves 9-3 on July 12, 2023. This marks the longest stretch of starts in a season without a win in Giants history, previously held at 16 games.
In a stellar performance, the 42-year-old ace allowed only one hit over five scoreless innings, despite issuing five walks. Verlander’s previous struggles culminated in a dismal record of 1-8 before this much-anticipated win. The three-time Cy Young winner, who signed a $15 million one-year deal with San Francisco in January, finally delivered on his promise to the franchise.
Verlander faced early challenges, throwing a staggering 40 pitches in the first inning alone, which tied for his third-most pitches in an opening inning throughout his career. Remarkably, he managed to keep the Braves off the scoreboard, not yielding a hit until the fifth inning.
Rafael Devers shone brightly alongside Verlander, contributing significantly to the Giants’ victory. The designated hitter, just a day after making his debut as the starting first baseman, drove in a staggering four runs with three hits, including two impressive home runs. Devers initiated the scoring with a homer off Braves pitcher Spencer Strider in the fifth, followed by a two-run blast from Matt Chapman to extend the lead to 3-0.
Devers capped off his outstanding night with a three-run shot off Dylan Dodd in the sixth inning, further solidifying the Giants’ lead. Despite Atlanta’s Eli White earning the Braves’ first hit off Verlander with a blooper in the fifth, the Giants’ pitcher remained unyielding, striking out Drake Baldwin to end the threat.
This victory marks the Giants’ second consecutive win, following a six-game losing streak. They outscored the Braves 18-3 in the final two games of the series after losing the opener 9-7. The Giants’ resurgence is a promising sign as they gain momentum in the competitive league.
As fans celebrate this long-awaited win for Verlander and the Giants, all eyes will be on the team as they look to build on this victory in upcoming matchups. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.