Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander delivered the final pitch of his legendary career Saturday, forcing a pop out from Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe before walking off the mound with his daughter Genevieve to a roaring ovation at Comerica Park.
The 43-year-old departed the outing after allowing two earned runs on 91 pitches while striking out six. He averaged 92.6 mph and topped out at 94 mph on his fastball during Detroit’s 4-3 win. Eduardo Valencia hit a walk-off homer to end the storybook day for Verlander.
Verlander teared up following the final outing of his career when he was asked what the day meant to him and his family.
“You commit your life to something. I’ve been a baseball player since I was five years old. I gave everything for this. I left home, she (Genevieve) is in school and I wasn’t there,” Verlander told reporters, per MLB on Fox.
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