Scherzer, who hit a bases grand slam and was ‘completely devastated’, and Verlander, who won 11 QS+ games in triumph, had a hot match of the century

One side raised its right arm in triumph, while the other side was completely devastated.

In the historic first match between starting aces, Justin Verlander (Houston Astros) won by KO over Max Scherzer (Texas Rangers).

Verlander started the away game against Texas held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on the 7th (Korean time) and pitched well, giving up 4 hits and 1 walk and allowing 2 runs (1 earned run) in 7 innings. Houston won 12-3, giving Verlander his 11th win (7 losses) of the season. His earned run average lowered from 3.34 to 3.23, and his strikeouts increased to 6, reaching 119 on the season.

On the other hand, Scherzer gave up 7 runs in 3 innings, hitting 3 home runs and allowing 6 hits and 2 walks. He suffered the humiliation of being replaced after barely completing 60 pitches. The 7 runs allowed are his most this season. The previous six runs were given twice in the first half of the season with the New York Mets.

After suffering the loss, Scherzer recorded 12 wins and 6 losses on the season, and his ERA deteriorated from 3.55 to 3.91.

Verlander threw 100 pitches. He used 41 four-seam fastballs, with a maximum velocity of 96.4 mph and an average of 94.4 mph. He threw a mix of 26 sliders, 25 curveballs, and 8 changeups. The proportion of breaking balls was high at 59%.스포츠토토

Among Scherzer’s 26 four-seam fastballs, the highest speed was 95.0 mph and the average was 93.8 mph. Restraint was the same as usual. He used 12 curves, 10 sliders, 8 cutters, and 4 changeups, but the turnover rate per minute for all pitches, including fastballs, was well below the season average. This means that the position itself was bad and the control was also shaky.

The game was decided in the beginning. Scherzer gave up a double to left field to Jeremy Peña with one out in the top of the first inning, then allowed a two-run shot to Yordan Alvarez in the middle. The third pitch, a 94 mph fastball, was a miss thrown into the middle of the pitch.

Verlander also got off to an uneasy start as he gave up a left-field solo home run to leadoff leader Marcus Simien in the bottom of the first inning. However, after preventing additional runs until the 4th inning, he used a defensive error as an excuse to give one more run in the 5th inning, but achieved a quality start+ by blocking the 6th and 7th inning with consecutive three-way errors.

On the other hand, Scherzer gave up a solo shot to right field to Michael Brantley with one out in the second inning, and then collapsed after being hit by a grand slam to Jose Abreu in the third inning. Scherzer, who had the bases loaded due to leadoff Pena’s infield hit, Alvarez’s walk, and another walk to Kyle Tucker with one out, threw an 84 mph slider toward Abreu on the third pitch and ended up giving up a grand slam that went wide over the left-center wall. The score was 7-1, effectively dividing the game.

Houston won all three away games against Texas and recorded 80 wins and 61 losses, firmly maintaining its lead in the AL West. The Seattle Mariners, ranked second in the district, also defeated the Cincinnati Reds, maintaining a one-game lead.

On the other hand, Texas, which was busy with a long way to go, suffered a crushing defeat despite playing its ace Scherzer and failed to reach 3rd place in the AL Wild Card. The third-place Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Oakland Athletics on this day, so the gap between the two teams is still 0.5 games.