Justin Verlander was on the verge of his first win as a San Francisco Giant, holding a slim lead into the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. But with two outs and the game tied, the veteran’s night took a sudden turn—thanks to Alec Bohm’s clutch bat.
Bohm, who has struggled at the plate this season and faced boos from the home crowd, stepped up with runners on first and second. Verlander delivered a 95-mph fastball down the middle. Bohm seized the moment, driving a single to left-center and bringing home Nick Castellanos, giving the Phillies a 4-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish in their eventual 6-4 victory.
The at-bat was a dramatic reversal for Bohm, who had grounded into an inning-ending double play earlier in the game. “You can either let that go one way and ruin the rest of the day, or just keep playing the game,” Bohm reflected after the win. His resilience paid off, snapping an RBI drought that stretched back to Opening Day.
For Verlander, the inning was another frustrating chapter in his Giants tenure. He exited after 2/3 innings, having allowed four runs on eight hits, and remains winless in his first four starts for San Francisco. Manager Bob Melvin’s decision to stick with the 42-year-old ace in the sixth ultimately backfired—a move that will surely be dissected as Verlander continues his quest for career win number.
As the Phillies look to build on Bohm’s breakthrough, all eyes remain on whether Verlander can turn his luck around in the Bay Area.
