Detroit Vs. Kansas City 5-13-11
Shortly after becoming just the 30th pitcher in major league history to throw multiple no-hitters, Justin Verlander was already thinking about his next opponent.
That likely doesn't bode well for the Kansas City Royals.
Looking to build on his dominant performance, Verlander takes the mound for the surging Detroit Tigers as they return home to open a three-game set with the Royals on Friday night.
Verlander (3-3, 3.16 ERA), who had compiled a mediocre 3.75 ERA over his first seven starts, was anything but ordinary during Saturday's 9-0 win at Toronto, recording his second career no-hitter - with one walk the only thing standing between him and a perfect game.
"From my perspective, I don't want to start getting dramatic - because it doesn't work out that way sometimes - but to me this could very easily be the game that turns his career from an outstanding pitcher to the next level," manager Jim Leyland told MLB.com.
The 28-year-old right-hander, though, didn't take much time to dwell on his milestone and began looking ahead to his 17th career start versus the Royals (20-17).
"After that night was over, it was business as usual for me," said Verlander, who is 10-2 with a 2.58 ERA lifetime against Kansas City and 4-0 with a 3.93 ERA in the matchup at home.
"I had to go in the next day and get my work in and prepare myself. I'm always thinking ahead. The next day, when I wake up in bed, I'm thinking about the Royals' lineup, some of their guys and how I'm going to pitch them and approach them."
Saturday's win was the first of a season-best five straight for Detroit (20-18), which has outscored opponents 43-16 during that stretch thanks largely to the hot hitting of Victor Martinez.
Martinez, in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, is batting .571 during the Tigers' run with two homers and 13 RBIs - seven of which came during a two-game sweep at Minnesota.
Leyland's club found itself down late Wednesday but scored four times over the final two innings en route to a 9-7 win, its eighth in nine games.
"Pretty nice trip. If it ends up 4-2, that's OK," Leyland said. "But they never gave in. They wanted to go home 5-1 and they did."
Kansas City has also enjoyed some recent success on the road, taking back-to-back games from the New York Yankees for its first series win in the Bronx since 1999.
"I've experienced a lot of failure (with the Royals)," said Billy Butler, who had a season-best four hits. "I think it's a statement for us. Throughout the whole season, we've been fighting and we don't give up, no matter who we're facing."
Recently promoted Eric Hosmer, who drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning of Wednesday's 4-3 win, went 3 for 5 during Thursday's 11-5 victory with his second homer in as many days.
Kansas City probable starter Luke Hochevar (3-3, 4.91) is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts this month. He limited Oakland to one run and four hits over seven innings but left without a decision in Saturday's 4-3 victory.
The right-hander, who earned the win despite giving up four runs - three earned - in a 9-5 victory at Comerica Park on April 10, is 2-1 with a 7.31 ERA over three career starts in Detroit.
Miguel Cabrera is 10 for 20 with two home runs lifetime off Hochevar. Martinez and Magglio Ordonez, mired in a 2-for-19 slump over his last five games, are each 2 for 9.
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