SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have understood the stakes every time that Justin Verlander has taken the mound this season.
On 12 occasions, Verlander has started for the Giants in search of his first win of the season. On 12 occasions, including Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Miami Marlins, Verlander has ended a game without a victory to his name, the longest streak to start a season by a Giants starting pitcher in franchise history. On five occasions, Tuesday included, he’s taken the loss in the process.
There have been a dozen different reasons as to why Verlander remains winless. He pitched five innings against the Marlins — the minimum necessary to be in line for a victory — and allowed three runs in the process. On a night where Christian Koss’ two-run homer constituted the Giants’ only offense, Verlander saw his record on the season fall to 0-5 — unfamiliar territory for the future Hall of Famer.
Pitching in his first game since welcoming his second child, Verlander did not ascribe blame to the offense. The offense, still, knows it must do its part.
“It’s not on them; it’s on me,” Verlander said. “I haven’t put us in good position. Obviously, there was a couple times early in the year, but you can’t expect too many wins when you go out there and give up three-plus runs and don’t go deep in the game. That’s where I need to be better, for sure. I plan on it.”
Said Koss: “Every game as a team, we have the mentality that we’re going to win no matter who’s on the mound. It’s just one of those weird baseball things that’s playing its course. Eventually, he’s going to get a win. He is who he is and he’s been throwing well. One day, the offense will click for him.”
The offense has seldom clicked with Verlander on the mound. Excluding Verlander’s start against the Chicago Cubs, one where the Giants scored nine runs in the 11th inning, San Francisco is averaging 3.5 runs per game on days that Verlander starts. Over his last four starts, specifically, the Giants have scored eight total runs.
Given their cold offense, the Giants took a risk in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs and Rafael Devers on first, Heliot Ramos pulled a double down the left-field line and into the corner. Third base coach Matt Williams waved home Devers, who ranks in the 13th percentile of sprint speed.
If Devers scored, the game would’ve been tied at three apiece. Verlander, at the minimum, would’ve ended the day with a no decision. To go a step further, Ramos would’ve been on second base with Wilmer Flores due up, putting San Francisco in position to take the lead — and Verlander in position to receive a win.
The Marlins tossed cold water on that possibility with a textbook relay. Left fielder Kyle Stowers played the carom off the side wall and fired to shortstop Otto Lopez, who in turn threw a one-hopper to catcher Liam Hicks. The throw arrived plenty early, and Devers, who has been dealing with a bit of a groin ailment, didn’t bother sliding as Hicks applied the tag.
“You had to make two perfect throws,” Melvin said. “We’re not swinging the bats well. Sometimes, you have to take some risks as far as sending guys. … When the ball was down in the corner, I was saying send him because we’re trying to tie the game right there. It was a good pickup, good throw, good second throw and it ended up being out.”
Verlander’s preparation for his outing against the Marlins was significantly different compared to the other 537 regular season starts he’s made. Verlander welcomed his second child into the world, reporting that everybody is back home happy and healthy.
For obvious reasons, Verlander deviated from his normal routine in between starts ahead of Tuesday’s outing. Verlander didn’t extensively detail his preparation but did note that he played catch on Monday.
“Having a six-and-a-half year old and knowing the journey that’s ahead of me is really incredible,” Verlander said. “I’m really looking forward to reliving some of those times.”
And perhaps in his next start — one that will likely come against the lowly Chicago White Sox — Verlander will be able to relive another experience he’s lived on 262 occasions: being a winning pitcher.
“Everybody wants to get him a win, I know that,” Melvin said. “The way he handles himself in between starts, he’s very professional. He’s always prepared. He’s got a great game plan and what he needs to do. All those things we feel when he takes the mound. We just haven’t been able to get it for him.”
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