Pfaadt and Verlander trade lot of zeros in Giants-Diamondbacks game with playoff implications

PHOENIX (AP) — Brandon Pfaadt and 42-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander matched a lot of zeros in a mid-September pitcher's duel between NL West rivals still hoping to get into the playoffs.

Both starters were spectacular, though neither got a decision in San Francisco's 5-1 win over Arizona on Wednesday. Every run was scored in the 11th inning.

Pfaadt, a 26-year-old right-hander in his third season with the Diamondbacks, allowed only one hit over nine scoreless innings. He struck out seven and walked one while throwing 97 pitches in what would have been the distance without extra innings.

“We unfortunately couldn’t capitalize on an unreal start by Brandon Pfaadt,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s never pitched that deep into a baseball game, but didn't let it affect him. He went out there and executed an unbelievable game plan.”

While Verlander needed 10 more pitches to get through his seven scoreless innings, the right-hander matched his longest outing with the Giants and extended an impressive stretch.

Verlander, who was 0-8 through his first 16 starts this season, has given up only three runs over 31 innings (0.87 ERA) in his last five. Beginning with his first win on July 23, he is 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA in his past 11 games to lower his season ERA to 3.75.

“It's too bad we couldn't get him a win,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “He's pitching this well this late in the season. ... It's pretty remarkable.”

The Giants (76-76) lost the first two games in the series at Arizona and were 2 1/2 games behind the Mets, who played later Wednesday, for the final National League wild card. The Diamondbacks (77-76) were just ahead at two games behind New York.

Pfaadt didn’t allow a hit until rookie Drew Gilbert’s one-out single in the sixth. Heliot Ramos hit into a double play two pitches later.

Verlander allowed three hits and walked two.

After rookie Joel Peguero (3-0) worked a scoreless 10th for the Giants, Bryce Elkridge walked leading off the 11th against John Curtiss (3-2) and Jerar Encarnacion singled for the Giants’ second hit to make it 1-0. Patrick Bailey singled to load the bases and Christian Koss’ double made it 3-0.

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander walks to the team dugout after warming up in the bullpen prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

At least two people were killed in a drone attack in Russia’s southwestern Saratov region and parts of Ukraine went without power following targeted assaults on energy infrastructure, local authorities said Saturday, as U.S.-led peace talks on ending the war press on.

The drone attack damaged a residential building and several windows were also blown out at a kindergarten and clinic, said Saratov regional Gov. Roman Busargin.

Russia’s defense ministry said it had shot down 41 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight.

In Ukraine, Russia launched overnight drone and missile strikes on five Ukrainian regions, targeting energy and port infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had sent over 450 drones and 30 missiles into Ukraine overnight.

"Thousands of families are now left without electricity after strikes last night in Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions," he wrote on Telegram.

An attack on the Black Sea city of Odesa caused grain silos to catch fire at the port, Ukrainian deputy prime minister and reconstruction minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.

Two people were wounded in attacks on the wider Odesa region, according to regional head Oleh Kiper.

Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the cold.

The latest round of attacks came after Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Friday that Russian police and National Guard will stay on in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas and oversee the industry-rich region, even if a peace settlement ends Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. This underscores Moscow’s ambition to maintain its presence in Donbas post-war. Ukraine is likely to reject such a stance as U.S.-led negotiations drag on.

Moscow will give its blessing to a ceasefire only after Ukraine’s forces have withdrawn from the front line, Ushakov said in comments published in Russian business daily Kommersant.

Meanwhile, Germany is set to host Zelenskyy on Monday for talks as peace efforts gain momentum and European leaders seek to steer negotiations.

For months, American negotiators have tried to navigate the demands of each side as U.S. President Donald Trump presses for a swift end to Russia’s war while growing increasingly exasperated by delays. The search for possible compromises has run into a major obstacle over who keeps Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russian forces.

In this grab from a video provided by the Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine on Friday, Dec 12, 2025, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy records a video at the road entering of Kupiansk, Ukraine. (Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine via AP)