Verlander remains winless as SF Giants drop first game to Marlins

SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander allowed three runs over five innings in his first start following the birth of his second child as the Giants lost to the Miami Marlins, 4-2, on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

Verlander, who now has a 0-5 record and 4.52 ERA through 12 starts, remains searching for his first victory as a Giant. The 42-year-old’s next start should come against the lowly Chicago White Sox, who are 22-55 following a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Miami’s Cal Quantrill, who entered play with a 5.68 ERA, limited San Francisco’s offense to two runs over 4 2/3 innings, both of which were the product of Christian Koss’ two-run homer in the fifth inning.

The Marlins established a 3-0 lead by the end of the third inning. Miami scored two runs in the second on Eric Wagaman’s RBI double and Connor Norby’s RBI single, then added a third run in the third frame on Otto Lopez’s RBI single.

The Giants cut into the Marlins’ lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Koss, starting in place of the recently optioned Tyler Fitzgerald, barely cleared the left-field fence with a two-run homer, his second of the season and of his career.

San Francisco nearly tied the game up at three apiece when Heliot Ramos doubled down the left-field line, but Rafael Devers was thrown out at home plate by several feet on an aggressive send by third base coach Matt Williams. Devers, who is dealing with a groin ailment, looked a bit uncomfortable following the play.

Miami had its fourth different player generate a run in the seventh inning as Xavier Edwards scored a run with an opposite-field double, bringing the Marlins’ advantage to 4-2.