Verlander earns his 262nd win as AL West champion Astros beat Guardians 4-3
Posted/updated on: September 28, 2024 at 10:57 pmCLEVELAND (AP) â Justin Verlander gave up three runs in six innings for his 262nd victory and the AL West champion Houston Astros beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Saturday night.
Verlander (5-6), who gave up seven hits and struck out five without a walk, won for the second time in three starts and lowered his ERA to 5.48. It was the longest outing since May 29 for the right-hander, who missed two months with neck discomfort.
âI worked hard for this and it was probably the best Iâve felt since coming back,â the likely Hall of Famer said. âIâm realistic. I know I havenât been as sharp as I need to be, but I feel like Iâm inching in the right direction.â
JosĂ© RamĂrez hit his 39th homer and drove in three runs for the AL Central champion Guardians, moving within one home run of becoming the seventh player in major league history with 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. He already has 41 steals this season.
âRamĂrez is such an incredible hitter, youâve got to tip your hat to him,â said Verlander, who is 24-24 with a 4.42 ERA in 57 career starts against Cleveland. âIt wasnât a bad pitch and he hit it out. Itâs impressive.â
The Guardiansâ defeat clinched home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs for the New York Yankees, who lost to the Pirates 9-4. Both teams have first-round byes.
Shawn Dubin worked a scoreless ninth for his second save. Houston will host either Detroit or Kansas City in the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday.
The 41-year-old Verlander ranks 40th in career victories and would be part of the rotation if he is chosen for Houstonâs postseason roster, manager Joe Espada said.
âThere was a real intention there tonight to show he can really deliver â and he did,â Espada said. âHe threw the ball really, really well and even got to 97 (mph) to RamĂrez.â
Verlander said he has not been told if he will be in uniform for the start of the playoffs.
âI donât know, thatâs a conversation with Joe that Iâm sure weâll have,â he said.
Zach Dezenzo had an RBI single in the first and Jon Singleton walked with the bases loaded during Houstonâs three-run second inning. A throwing error by Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio plated the final two runs.
RamĂrez hit a two-run homer in the first and had a sacrifice fly in the third. The six-time All-Star third baseman doubled in the eighth for his 1,500th career hit.
âItâs been an unbelievable year to watch Josey, so much fun,â Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. âIt will be fun to see what happens tomorrow.â
Guardians starter Ben Lively (13-10) pitched four innings, giving up two earned and two unearned runs.
TRAINERâS ROOM
Astros: OF Yordan Alvarez (right knee sprain) has been fitted with a brace and could resume baseball activities Sunday. Alvarez last appeared in a game on Sept. 22.
Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb (right third finger blister) reported no issues after a bullpen session at Progressive Field. He is scheduled to throw a simulated game Sunday.
UP NEXT
Astros RHP Ryan Gusto is likely to be promoted from the taxi squad and make his major league debut in the regular-season finale. Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (3-10, 4.86 ERA) will work as the bulk reliever behind RHP Nick Sandlin.
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