SAN FRANCISCO — It feels like every night there’s a new stunning stat about how dire things have gotten for the Giants. Here was Saturday’s: For the first time since 2008, they’ve lost six straight series at Oracle Park.
The Giants lost 2-1. This is the first time since 2008 that they’ve lost six straight series at home.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 17, 2025
This series loss was clinched when the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for two runs in the eighth and held on for a 2-1 win. The Giants have lost seven straight games and 15 of their last 16 at home. This is just the second time in Oracle Park history that they’ve dropped six consecutive home series, although for seven innings Saturday, things were trending up.
Justin Verlander has had truly unbelievable luck in his attempt to get closer to 300 career wins. He had some rough times in the first half, but he generally has pitched well in recent weeks, and he wasn’t rewarded Saturday for his best start as a Giant.
Verlander threw seven shutout innings and left with a 1-0 lead, but three straight two-out hits off José Buttó and Brandon Lowe put the Rays on top in the top of the eighth. It was the sixth time that the bullpen blew a lead for Verlander, who also has received the second-worst run support in baseball.
Climbing the Charts
Walter Johnson began his career in 1907, so perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that there’s some confusion about his stats. MLB.com has Johhnson at 3,508 career strikeouts, Baseball-Reference has him at 3,509 and Elias Sports Bureau has him at 3,515.
That meant Verlander either passed or approached Johnson on Saturday, depending on which statistical group you trust most. On the scoreboard the Giants went with Baseball-Reference, and Verlander got a nice ovation when he reached 3,510 in the fifth inning.
Verlander finished with eight strikeouts, getting to 3,511 for his career. Next up after Johnson is Giants Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry, who is eighth all-time with 3,534. Verlander also isn’t far from No. 7 Don Sutton (3,574).
Hall Of Fame Company
For a moment, it looked like Verlander would join another impressive list. There have been just six 42-year-olds in MLB history to reach double-digit strikeouts in a game and it’s a group of legends: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Gaylord Perry, Rich Hill and Steve Carlton. Verlander’s season-high is nine and he came up just short Saturday.
He did, however, join…