In the Astros' win over the A's, Verlander struck out the side in the sixth.
After collecting his MLB-leading 12th win Saturday, Verlander wasn't ready to reflect on how far he has come this season
The 39-year-old did note how his almost two-year absence from the game after Tommy John surgery has made him appreciate his success more.
He said that he doesn't take it for granted. I have taken a lot of things for granted in the past but not since I became an Astro. I think age and going through some stuff can help you grow up and realize some real positives that you might not have realized before.
The Houston Astros defeated the Oakland A's by a score of five to nil.
Verlander, who leads all active players in strikeouts, has 3,121 in his career and is now 14th on the all time list
Verlander is third in the majors with a 1.89 earned run average. The team with the worst record in the American League was blanked by the three pitchers in the sixth.
Verlander was selected to his ninth All-Star game and will attend next week's festivities in Los Angeles but won't pitch in Tuesday's game after throwing 106 pitches.
"Especially with a guy that's had the success that he's had, he has that inner drive that you can't really teach someone," Baker said. A lot of people would have thrown in the towel but this guy loves to pitch and he loves to compete. He's put in a lot of time and effort and we're happy that he's back.
The catcher said he felt like he was 25 years old.
When he was told of the assessment of him, Verlander chuckled.
He appreciated it. A lot of hard work goes into trying to fight the good fight and rage against the dying of the light. I will do that as long as possible.
Five of the six hits Verlander allowed were singles, and the only time the A's got more than one hit was in the fifth when Nick Allen hit a pair of singles. Ramon Laureano was thrown out at home plate by Verlander to end the threat.
The manager of Oakland said that it was a classic. He was throwing a lot of breaking balls today.
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