ANAHEIM, Calif. — Justin Verlander’s long-awaited return to the winner’s circle finally arrived Saturday night, as the seasoned pitcher notched his first victory since returning from injury, leading the Houston Astros to a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. His performance helped the team secure their third consecutive victory and maintain their position atop the American League West, 4.5 games clear of the Seattle Mariners.
Verlander, who had been battling neck stiffness since late May, had struggled to find his form upon his return to the mound. This match marked his first win since May 24 when he defeated the Oakland Athletics. On Saturday, he demonstrated significant improvement, allowing two runs and four hits over five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. After suffering from a 9.69 ERA across four previous starts post-injury, his latest outing showed promise for what’s to come as the postseason approaches.
“It's start to start at this point, trying to play catchup,” Verlander reflected after the game. “Unfortunately, before I got hurt, I got on a little bit of a good run there, kind of found my mechanics and then the neck injury hit, causing me to lose time. I’m working as quickly as I can to get back to where I can be tougher to hit than I am right now.”
Yordan Alvarez proved to be the star of the game, smashing a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, his 34th of the season. He was instrumental alongside Jose Altuve, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, helping to set the tone early with his game-opening single and stolen base, later scoring on Tyler Anderson's wild pitch.
Meanwhile, Kyle Tucker, still regaining his form after returning from a shin fracture, added to the excitement with a pinch-hit home run, his first since June 1. Astros manager Joe Espada expressed enthusiasm about Tucker’s presence, remarking, “To have a guy like him on the bench is great, but you’d rather have him on the field.”
Both teams had their moments, with Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson taking the mound for Los Angeles. Anderson allowed four runs on seven hits across five innings of play and fell to 10-13 for the season. The Angels managed to strike first, capitalizing on Verlander's nerves as he walked his first two batters and later surrendered an RBI single to Nolan Schanuel in the first inning.
Despite the rocky start, Houston's defense returned the favor by providing key defensive plays. A remarkable catch from Jake Meyers shifted the momentum, leading Verlander to retire nine of the next ten Angels batters. Moments like these are often what distinguish wins from losses—Meyers’ effort bolstered the Astros’ confidence and momentum.
The Angels made attempts to stage a comeback, with Eric Wagaman achieving the first hit and major league RBI of his career following his promotion, which was especially sweet considering he began his time with the Angels going 0-for-9 with two strikeouts. “That's awesome; now he can relax a little bit,” said Angels manager Ron Washington on Wagaman’s performance.
Houston’s bullpen was sharp as well, with Ryan Pressly closing out the game and securing his fourth save, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Despite Verlander’s less-than-stellar numbers since coming back from injury, Pressly’s reliability highlighted the depth of the Astros’ pitching staff.
Looking forward, Verlander is set for at least two more starts before the regular season wraps up. He knows the importance of building momentum as October approaches and expressed eagerness to fine-tune his game. “We'll evaluate this one over the next few days and just continually try to add brick by brick in the right direction,” he said, optimistic about getting back to his peak performance level.
Next up for the Astros, right-hander Ronel Blanco will take the mound, aiming to keep the streak alive against the Angels as they compete for playoff positions and begin to solidify their postseason roster. The Houston Astros continue to show resilience and promise, especially with Verlander back on the hill, eager to contribute to the team’s success as they drive toward the playoffs.
