The Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander was totally fine leaving with a no-hitter intact after six innings against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
“I like to go deep in games in the regular season, but I’d rather do it in the post-season or at least be fresh and strong for that,” he said.
Verlander posted his MLB-leading 16th win as the Astros beat Minnesota in Carlos Correa’s return to Houston.
Photo: Troy Taormina-USA Today
Correa, making his first visit to Houston after leaving the Astros to join the Twins this off-season, received a huge ovation when honored during a pre-game ceremony where he was presented with his American League Championship ring.
Verlander (16-3) allowed just one runner to reach base — Nick Gordon struck out in the second inning on a wild pitch to get aboard. Verlander fanned 10 and lowered his MLB-best earned run average to 1.87 in his spectacular return after missing almost two seasons after Tommy John surgery.
Manager Dusty Baker said Verlander was on a pitch limit of 90 as the Astros transition from a six to five-man rotation, but he still asked Verlander if he wanted to keep going as he had not allowed a hit.
“After six innings at ... 91 pitches, you know it’s not going to be one of those nights,” Verlander said. “Maybe 15 years ago, 10 years ago when I loved throwing 130-something, but not now and specifically not after Tommy John in my first season back.”
The 39-year-old Verlander was pulled after 91 pitches. He is the only active player to have thrown three no-hitters — in May, he lost a no-hit try against the Twins in the eighth inning at Target Field.
Ryne Stanek relieved to begin the seventh and Correa led off with Minnesota’s first hit.
“I didn’t want to get no-hit on the first game back, so I had to drop that one in there,” Correa said.
Alex Bregman’s homer helped the American League West-leading Astros build a 4-0 lead. The Twins scored twice in the ninth and had the bases loaded before Bryan Abreu struck out Jake Cave to end it.
The Twins lost their fourth straight game in a night of struggles at the plate that came after they placed All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton on the injured list with a hip strain. Until their late rally, the most noise Minnesota made came when manager Rocco Baldelli was ejected during an animated argument.
Things got testy in the fifth when Twins starter Aaron Sanchez (0-1) plunked Jose Altuve on the left thigh. There was some jawing between Altuve and Sanchez and benches cleared, but there was no pushing or shoving.
Order was soon restored, but after Yuli Gurriel walked on four pitches, Baldelli came out of the dugout yelling at the umpires. He was soon ejected by first base umpire Todd Tichenor, but that did not stop him from screaming and gesturing wildly for a few more minutes before leaving the field.
Baldelli said he was upset as he believes he was charged with a visit to the mound when he went to try to calm down Sanchez and was not properly informed of it.
“At the bare minimum I think there’s probably it’s necessary for someone to come over and let us know that a visit was given,” he said. “So that’s it. I disagreed and I disagreed on multiple levels.”
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