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Eduardo Valencia Hits Walk-Off Homer as Tigers Beat 4-3

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Valencia Walk-Off

Eduardo Valencia hit a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth, giving Detroit a 4-3 victory.
Justin Verlander started his final Tigers game, pitching 5 1/3 innings on 91 pitches.
He allowed two solo homers, struck out six and walked one.
His daughter Genevieve threw the first pitch and embraced him on the mound.
He finished with a 266-159 record, 3.33 ERA, 3,560 strikeouts, eighth all-time after announcing retirement in July 2026.

Summary

Verlander Receives Tribute

The Tigers held a pre-game tribute for Justin Verlander on Sept. 25.
Former teammate Brandon Inge gave Verlander a custom-made Tigers golf cart during the ceremony.
Jeff Jones presented a wooden “Home” cap as a commemorative item for Verlander.
Verlander disclosed that left-hip inflammation and a hamstring strain limited him to one start before the IL.
He thanked mentors Jim Leyland, A.J. Hinch and late Al Kaline for shaping his career.

History

Historical Context

Cal Ripken Jr. ended his 21-year Orioles career with a ceremony on Oct 6, 2001 after his 2,632-game streak—record set when he surpassed Lou Gehrig’s 2,130-game run in 1995. The tribute, featuring a $5,000 glove from owner Peter Angelos, echoes baseball’s long-standing practice of honoring veteran icons, a tradition that later appeared in Detroit’s 2026 Justin Verlander farewell.

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Valencia Walk-Off

Eduardo Valencia hit a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth, giving Detroit a 4-3 victory.
Justin Verlander started his final Tigers game, pitching 5 1/3 innings on 91 pitches.
He allowed two solo homers, struck out six and walked one.
His daughter Genevieve threw the first pitch and embraced him on the mound.
He finished with a 266-159 record, 3.33 ERA, 3,560 strikeouts, eighth all-time after announcing retirement in July 2026.

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