Justin Verlander makes teary farewell to 21-year career as Tigers rally to beat Pirates 4-3

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander made a teary farewell, accompanied by his 7-year-old daughter as he left a major league mound for the final time in the Detroit Tigers' 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Eduardo Valencia hit a game-ending, two-run homer off Mason Montgomery (6-4) in a three-run ninth that included Kevin McGonigle’s RBI groundout.

Verlander allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with one walk and six strikeouts in his 91-pitch outing. The 43-year-old right-hander was making his second start of the year and first since March 30 in a season derailed by a sore hip and hamstring injury.

After Brandon Lowe hit a foul popup starting the sixth, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walked from the dugout toward the plate and pointed toward the seats. Genevieve Verlander, wearing a Tigers jersey with her dad’s name and number, sprinted to the mound and hugged her father, who reached down to embrace her and started shaking and sobbing.

Verlander finished 266-159 in 557 starts with a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts, eighth on the career list.

Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead on solo homers by Brandon Lowe in the fourth and Nick Gonzales.

Javier Báez hit an RBI double in the sixth, and Bryan Reynolds extended Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1 with a run-scoring triple in the eighth.

Jacob Waguespack (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Pittsburgh (81-80) needs one win for its first winning season since 2018.

The Pirates' Kirby Yates made his first career start after 517 relief appearances. The 39-year-old right-hander allowed two hits over 1 2/3 innings in what he said might be his final game.

Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz left in the third inning. He fell awkwardly while trying to field McGonigle’s bloop single in the first.

Tigers RHP River Ryan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Pirates RHP Jared Jones (5-6, 3.87) start Sunday in the final game before Comerica Park's name changes to Fifth Third Park for 2027.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Home plate umpire Laz Diaz, right, rules the Pittsburgh Pirates' final out of the fifth inning in a baseball game as Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander reacts d, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Genevieve Verlander, left, hugs her dad, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Kate Upton, left foreground, hugs her husband, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, after he was taken out of the game during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) acknowledges the crowd after being taken out of the game during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) and his daughter, Genevieve Verlander, leave the field after Verlander was taken out of the game during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A.J. Ewing hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, Ronny Mauricio went deep from both sides of the plate for his first career multi-homer game and the New York Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 7-1 on Saturday.

New York left fielder Juan Soto left the game in the ninth inning after he was hit on the right hand by a 91.7 mph sinker from Richard Lovelady. Mets manager Andy Green said X-rays were negative.

Mets rookie Carson Benge had three hits for his 44th multihit game and 13th with three hits or more. Benge also made a sprawling, backhand catch in right field with two on in the third on Abimelec Ortiz’s sacrifice fly, a grab reminiscent of Ron Swoboda's against Baltimore's Brooks Robinson in Game 4 of the 1969 World Series.

Ortiz's fly gave Washington a lead that stood until Ewing homered in the seventh on an 0-2 curveball from Jake Irvin (2-10), ending an 0-of-10 slide and putting the Mets ahead 3-1.

Mauricio connected on a fastball three pitches later for his first home run since May 1. Mets Nos. 8 and 9 hitters hit consecutive home runs for the third time this year. Mauricio added a two-run homer in the ninth.

Washington has allowed 22 home runs in the seventh inning or later that tied games or put opponents ahead, the most in the major leagues.

Dedniel Nuñez (2-1) struck out the side in the sixth.

New York clinched its sixth straight season series against Washington at 7-5.

Starter Connelly Early made his Nationals debut, retiring nine of 10 batters while allowing one hit in three innings. The left-hander was acquired July 26 from Boston for Curtis Mead and activated from the injured list Saturday after recovering from left elbow inflammation.

Mets starter Jonah Tong struck out a career high nine, allowing three hits in five innings. The rookie finished 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in four starts and three relief appearances.

New York LHP Sean Manaea (6-7, 4.67 ERA) faces Washington LHP DJ Herz (0-1, 9.00) in Sunday’s season finale, which was moved up two hours to 1:05 p.m. because of rain forecast later in the day.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

New York Mets' Carson Benge scores a run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets' Ronny Mauricio celebrates his two-run home run as he rounds the bases during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets second baseman Ronny Mauricio, right, and shortstop Brett Baty, left, embrace after a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets' Ronny Mauricio (0) celebrates his two-run home run with A.J. Ewing (9) during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets' A.J. Ewing, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Francisco Alvarez (4) during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)