HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Justin Verlander escaped the early innings of his 35th postseason start.
Three of the first four Twins he faced on Saturday reached base, but he was able to keep them off the board with the help of a double play, just the third he had induced since his return to the Astros two months ago. He threw just 10-of-23 pitches for a strike, and couldn’t get the Twins to offer at any of his breaking balls out of the zone.
Carlos Correa started the second inning with a single, and after Matt Wallner lined out to first Ryan Jeffers singled, but the Twins failed to take advantage when Michael A. Taylor grounded into another double play.
It looked like the third inning would be more of the same when Edouard Julien ripped an 0-2 fastball off the wall in center field, but Verlander recovered, stranded Julien, and did not allow a hit to the final 14 men he faced.
“Early he was forcing his breaking ball,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “His breaking ball, he couldn't get it over. He got in trouble a couple times early, but if you don't get J.V. early, he usually finds his groove.”
Only two of the last 14 Twins to step in the batter’s box against Verlander in game one of the Astros 6-4 win over the Twins reached base. Taylor was hit by a pitch with one out in the fifth, while Alex Kirilloff worked a two-out walk in the sixth.
Six of those 14 failed to put the ball in play, the last of which being Carlos Correa, who took a 93.3 MPH heater that home plate umpire Brian Knight thought hit the inside corner, for a called third strike.
“I think what feels really good is that, when you start off struggling and are able to make some adjustments and find it,” Verlander said. “The third, fourth, and fifth obviously was able to have some things click and make some better pitches and get some easier outs.
“The first few innings were not easy.”
Saturday was Verlander’s 19th postseason start with the Astros, and the first time he wasn’t scored since game one the 2019 ALDS against the Rays. Saturday’s win was their 12th with Verlander as the starter, and he now has 17 playoff wins for his career, just two behind Andy Pettitte for the Major League record.
“He gave us all he had like he usually does, and he gave us quality,” Baker said. “Even when he doesn't have his great stuff, he still manages to get people out.”