In the seventh and final frame of the game, Verlander threw two 99 mph pitches. There is a time and a place for this.
Verlander became the major league's first 13-game winner, striking out nine and topping 99 mph in his final pitch as the Houston Astros beat the SeattleMariners.
The American League's second-ranked pitcher, Verlander, allowed four hits in seven starts to win his fifth in a row and lower his ERA to 1.86, second in the league.
Verlander, who missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, averaged 96.3 mph with his fastball, which was 1.1 mph above his season average.
Carlos Santana's ninth home run cut the lead to 2-1 in the seventh, but he retired 15 straight between the second- and third-inning singles. Verlander struck out Sam Haggerty on his final pitch after Seattle loaded the bases on walks.
Nolan Ryan, Joe Niekro, and Robin Roberts all did it at the age of 40, while Verlander did it at 39.
In his past eight starts, Verlander has allowed one earned run or less. He's the oldest to do it since a 44-year-old Randy Johnson did it in three in a row in 2008.
The streak of eight consecutive winning series ended with Houston's victory in the last series.
The AP contributed.
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