Giants Lose Walk-Off Cardinals Verlander Reaches Eighth All-Time Strikeouts

Justin Verlander has been delivering historically significant and strong performances for the San Francisco Giants despite the team's recent struggles. On a notable night at Busch Stadium, Verlander pitched six scoreless innings with nine swings and misses, surpassing Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry to move into eighth place on the all-time strikeout list, though the Giants lost 3-2 in a walk-off against the Cardinals after closer Ryan Walker faltered in the ninth inning. Despite his 3-10 record and 4.29 ERA over 24 starts this season, Verlander has shown marked improvement since the All-Star break, striking out 21 batters and allowing just two runs in his last three starts, raising hopes for his return in 2026 amid the Giants' rotation uncertainties. The Giants are currently four games behind the Mets for the final wild-card spot, highlighting the importance of Verlander's recent contributions as the team tries to extend its playoff push. Verlander, at 42 years old, also became the oldest pitcher since 2008 to record a double-digit strikeout game, demonstrating his enduring effectiveness on the mound.