Verlander Dominates Again
Justin Verlander didn't throw a second straight no-hit game -- but he had the stuff to do so.
Verlander, who allowed just one runner to reach base (on a walk) in his previous start, went 5 2/3 innings before giving up a hit against Kansas City with Detroit going on to win, 3-1, for its sixth straight victory.
"It was the same as last time," Verlander said. "I started thinking about it in the third or fourth inning or so.
"If I had got that last out (in the sixth), come the 7th, 8th and 9th I was going after it with everything I had."
As before, Verlander started the first with his fastball in the 92-93 mph range. But this time instead of a wicked slider, his 12-to-6 curve was right on target and his changeup was darting, except for the 1-0 changeup that got too much of the plate so Melky Cabrera could nail it for an RBI triple with two out in the fifth.
The way Verlander was able to keep his demeanor the same from start to start was impressive.
He allowed just two hits in the eight innings he was allowed to pitch with two walks and seven strikeouts.
"I was giving everybody in the city of Detroit good reason to second-guess me," manager Jim Leyland said of sending closer Jose Valverde out for the ninth. "But I'll tell you why. He has a phobia about Billy Butler, who I think is hitting .400 off him. I noticed he was pitching very carefully to him and he was due up second in the ninth.
"If it had been another part of the lineup, I would have left him in."
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