Tigers 5, Nationals 5, In 10 Innings
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Jose Valverde and Joaquin Benoit allowed home runs after Justin Verlander scattered three hits over four innings and a Washington Nationals split squad tied the Detroit Tigers in a game that ended 5-5 after 10 innings Saturday.
Corey Brown and Andres Blanco homered off Tiger closer Jose Valverde and setup man Joaquin
Benoit to lift the Nationals into a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning.
Brandon Inge and Brennan Boesch each homered to help Detroit take a 4-0 lead behind Verlander, the AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, who struck out four. Tigers Catcher Alex Avila threw out two of the Nationals who reached on base hits trying to steal.
Washington starter John Lannan went two innings, giving up two runs on four hits, including Inge's home run.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
