Detroit – On Saturday night at Comerica Park, longtime Tigers ace Justin Verlander closed out a 21‑year major‑league career with a heartfelt moment that stole the spotlight from the game itself. After a foul popup in the sixth inning, manager A.J. Hinch pointed to the stands, and Verlander’s daughter, seven‑year‑old Genevieve, sprinted onto the field wearing a Tigers jersey emblazoned with her father’s name and number.
Genevieve hugged her dad on the mound, prompting an emotional response as Verlander began to shake and sob. Manager Hinch joined the embrace about 25 seconds later, and teammates quickly surrounded the family for a group hug. The scene captured the crowd’s admiration, and the 43‑year‑old right‑hander left the field holding his daughter’s hand as fans gave a standing ovation.
Family celebration on the warning track
Model wife Kate Upton stood on the warning track with their one‑year‑old son Bellamy, joining Justin and Genevieve for a family group hug in front of the dugout. After the embrace, Verlander high‑fived teammates, doffed his cap to the crowd, and walked down the dugout steps with his family.
Verlander’s final outing lasted 5 1/3 innings, during which he allowed two runs on five hits, issued one walk and struck out six batters on 91 pitches. He entered the game with a career record of 266‑159, a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts, placing him eighth on the all‑time strikeout list.
Game recap
The Tigers fell behind early, with Pittsburgh taking a 2‑0 lead on solo homers by Brandon Lowe in the fourth and Nick Gonzales in the fifth. The Pirates’ fifth‑batter, 20‑year‑old shortstop Konnor Griffin, was not even born when Verlander debuted for Detroit on July 4, 2005. After Verlander’s exit, reliever Tyler Kinley took over, delivering the first pitch of a 5 ½‑minute pause before the bullpen warmed up.
Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons, a longtime Tigers fan, announced Verlander as part of the starting lineup, and the crowd gave him multiple ovations throughout the night. The emotional farewell underscored the respect earned by a ten‑time All‑Star and three‑time Cy Young Award winner whose career spanned over two decades.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
