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Verlander finally secures his first win with the Giants as Devers hits two home runs to break the deadlock.

Justin Verlander has finally secured his first win with the Giants.

After going 0-8 in his first 16 starts this season—setting a franchise record for the longest winless streak for a starting pitcher—Verlander pitched five scoreless innings at Truist Park today, allowing just one hit and recording three strikeouts, helping the team defeat the Braves 9-3 on the road to clinch the series. Although he struggled with control, issuing five walks, he still completed the win requirement with 98 pitches. This marks Verlander's first win since September 29, 2024 (during his time with the Astros), and it is the Giants' first series win since defeating the Phillies from July 8-10.

After the game, his teammates prepared a special celebration gift. "A few teammates brought me a nice bottle of wine to celebrate, which feels amazing," Verlander said with a smile, "I definitely need to have a drink tonight to celebrate. I'm really glad to finally contribute to the team."

He admitted that this victory holds special significance: "It's easy to take wins for granted when things are going well—previously, after starting every five days, I could always join in the high-fives after the game. But this season, I've struggled both physically and with my pitching performance, so I hope this win can be a turning point."

In the first inning, Verlander faced a tough battle, throwing 40 pitches and issuing three walks. "In the humid weather, I wanted to finish quickly and put pressure on the opposing pitcher with the heat," he explained, "especially since Braves starter Spencer Strider threw a lot of pitches in the first inning. However, the slickness of the ball affected my control, but fortunately, I managed to get out of the jam. Later, I sat in front of a fan to cool down, and my performance gradually stabilized."

Manager Bob Melvin praised his resilience: "Every time the team sees him take the mound, he gives it his all but often faces setbacks. To throw 40 pitches in the first inning and still go five full innings shows his tenacity—especially considering our bullpen is already taxed, and it's even harder in this heat."

During the fifth inning, rain suddenly started falling while the Giants were leading 3-0, and Verlander needed to record three more outs to secure the win. He quickly asked the umpire, "I’m worried that a rain delay or interruption could cost me my win eligibility. Luckily, the umpire said it was just light rain and wouldn't affect the game."

The lineup solidified the victory with power hits: Rafael Devers hit a solo home run in the fifth inning and a three-run shot in the sixth, marking his 20th career game with multiple home runs. The first home run came off a slider from Strider that was 0.90 feet high (the second-lowest pitch he has allowed to be hit this season, just above Pete Crow-Armstrong’s record of 0.86 feet).

The Giants scored nine runs in this game, matching the highest team total during Verlander's starts this season. "The offensive support is reassuring," Verlander noted, "my teammates have struggled during the losing streak as well, so today's outburst is especially precious."

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