WASHINGTON (AP) — Justin Verlander allowed two runs and four hits over six innings to win his season debut for the Houston Astros, 5-3 over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
The 41-year-old right-hander, who began the season on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation, struck out four and walked none, throwing 50 of 78 pitches for strikes in his 258th win.
“He looked really good,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Efficient, threw a ton of strikes.”
Verlander (1-0) averaged 94.3 mph with 35 four-seam fastballs and induced five groundouts. The nine-time All-Star retired the side in order four times and improved to 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Nationals.
Ildemaro Vargas hit an RBI single in the third and Riley Adams homered in the fourth, cutting Washington’s deficit to 4-2.
Verlander had made a pair of minor league injury rehabilitation starts.
Microsoft's AI chatbot will remember everything you do on a PC
Queen Letizia of Spain is elegant in an off
People are calling $700 AI gadget the worst piece of tech they've ever used
DeSantis signs bill limiting Florida book challenges
Election 2024: Biden and the Democrats raised far less in April than Trump and the GOP
Senate opposition leaves South Carolina energy bill with listless future
Wild moment elephant marauds through small town in Montana after breaking loose from circus
People with disabilities sue in Wisconsin over lack of electronic absentee ballots
Hush money trial: Trump witness Costello back on the stand after admonishment
EU, G7 leaders urge preventing escalation in Mideast
Election deniers moving closer to GOP mainstream as Trump allies fill Congress, report shows
Travel boom sees 740 mln trips made in 3