Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page C7

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013 WWW.FREEP.COM 7C TIGERS Instant replay AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM, KANSAS CITY, MO. Royals 3, Tigers 2 (10 innings) bpip ri crd Tigers second baseman Ramon Santiago bunts for a sacrifice in the seventh inning, advancing Brayan Pena to second base. Santiago had two sacrifices and a single, orlin wagnerassociated press J.V. gem wasted in 10 Verlander pitched arguably his best start of the season. In seven shutout innings, he allowed three hits and two walks, striking out eight.

"Today was the best I've felt the last month or so," Verlander said. "I was able to execute my fastball and throw some good off-speed pitches and keep those guys off balance." Asked about the ninth inning, Verlander said: "It hurts. You got two outs and two strikes and the ball leaves the yard, it's not a good feeling. It only tied the game. You immediately gotta change your mind-set to 'Let's win To lose it that way, it's a tough pill to swallow." Contact George Sipple: 313-223-4796 or gsipplefreepress.com.

Follow him on Twitter georgesipple. lack of effort. It's not like I'm missing pitch locations terribly and finding barrels and they're hitting bombs or anything like that. I'm getting beat on seeing-eye singles, you know. That seems to be what it is, at least in my opinion." Coke said Tejada and Hosmer hit fastballs: "They weren't poorly located, the one to Hosmer wasn't where I wanted it exactly, but it wasn't a poor location as far as what he did with it.

It was an effective pitch, but if it is 2 inches away from him, I get him to hit to second base instead of right up the middle." The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first when Prince Fielder singled in Avisail Garcia. Matt Tuiasosopo led off the fifth with a double to left, and Pena followed with an RBI double to right-center to make it 2-0. FROM PAGE 1C Valverde said he already turned the page on the loss, saying the team would have a day off today and he would be ready to pitch at Minnesota for the series that starts Friday. Valverde, who has nine saves, said the Tigers have "one of the best bullpens in the American League." The Tigers are 7-10 in one-run games, 2-7 in extra innings. Phil Coke (0-4) took the loss.

In the 10th, Miguel Tejada singled up the middle and took second on a sacrifice bunt. Alex Gordon grounded to first, moving Tejada to third. Eric Hosmer singled up the middle to win it. "Seems like every time I come into a game when it is tied late, it doesn't go very well," Coke said. "That part is a little bit annoying.

It's not for Kansas City's Eric Hosmer celebrates his game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning off Phil Coke with manager Ned Yost, ed zurgagetty images WHAT HAPPENED: Jose Valverde gave up a two-run home run to Lorenzo Cain with two outs in the ninth inning to tie the game. Phil Coke gave up a game-winning RBI single to Eric Hosmer in the 10th. The Tigers' bullpen is 4-12. Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the first when Prince Fielder singled to score Avisail Garcia. MattTuiasosopo doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on Brayan Pena's double for a 2-0 lead.

loss is tough," Coke said. "But J.V went out there and handled business and didn't have anything to show for it. Nobody counts no-decisions. They're just that, no-decisions. "Obviously, it's a quality start.

It's better than a quality start. He threw very well today, did exactly what we needed him to, and we weren't able to deliver theW." THREE STARS: 1. Verlander, 2. Cain, 3. Pena.

George Sppe been our horse for a long time. He stepped up today as good as you can step up. It was just a terrific, terrific performance." VALVERDE NOT STELLAR: Valverde came in with one on and none out in the ninth inning. Salvador Perez flied to right, and Billy Butler struck out swinging on a high fastball. But on an 0-2 count, Cain hit a Valverde splitter over the left-center wall.

It was the fifth home run Valverde has given up in 18 appearances this season. PENA SOARING: Pena went 2-for-4 with an RBI and raised his batting average to .299. OVERHEARD: "Every VERLANDER STELLAR: Justin Verlander pitched seven shutout innings for the Tigers. He allowed three hits and two walks and struck out eight. "He was a horse today," manager Jim Leyland said.

"There's no question about that. He was absolutely brilliant, absolutely terrific. He showed why he's MORE PHOTOS FROM THE LOSS mt Quality start streak continues FOOTjOY Contour Casual Golf Shoes ecco Men's Street Premier Golf Shoes 4 Colors Orig: $149.99 Style 54284, 54290, 54077, 54086, 54266 L1BJ LiiiJ II Sport Cart Bag 3 Colors to choose from Orig: $149.99 ODYSSEY PUTTER SALE! Backstryke, White Ice Progressive Sabertooth, Marxman, Dart, Dart Blade, Mini Saber Talon Orig: $1 59.99 bTTBfil LLPJ LLPJ EG NORMAN Greg Norman Shorts and Shirts Flat Front Tech Shorts 3 Colors Sizes 30-42 Orig: $68.00 ProTek Polos 8 Colors Sizes S-XXXL Orig: $47.00 Justin Verlander pitched seven scoreless innings Wednesday at Kansas City, striking out eight, orlin wagner associated press By George Sipple Detroit Free Press Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. Usually when asked about an opposing starter, Tigers manager Jim Leyland will respond with some version of "We've got a good one, too." It doesn't really matter which of the five starters are pitching for the Tigers. He says the same thing.

The starters have combined for a quality start in 18 of the past 19 games, including Wednesday's 3-2 loss in 10 innings to the Royals. Justin Verlander allowed three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings and outdueled James Shields before the bullpen gave up three runs. Max Scherzer improved to 9-0 after a 3-2 win over the Royals on Tuesday. He matched Vern Kennedy (1938) and George Uhle (1929) for the longest winning streak to begin a season by a Tigers starter since at least 1916. In his next start, Scherzer will try to become the club's first pitcher since at least 1916 to start 10-0.

In talking about Scherzer, Leyland gave credit to the job done this season by pitching coach Jeff Jones: "I don't say much about him because I don't like to brag about him, but I've got a terrific pitching coach. He's very good at spotting stuff." Leyland said he is usually pretty good about spotting things that pitchers are doing, but was surprised when Jones told him Scherzer had his glove too low in the first inning than normal," Jones said, adding that affected centering his target. It was one example of something Jones will mention to a player between innings. "You watch the guys throw so much, when something goes a little bit amiss, you kind of go through a checklist," Jones said. "When the guys throw their bullpens, that's when they make their adjustments and they usually remember when they get in a game.

That's why it is important when guys throw on the side that they really put a lot into it. That's how you figure things out about yourself." SIGNED UP: Ben Verlander, Justin's younger brother, tweeted Wednesday that he had signed with the Tigers, who drafted him in Round 14. Tuesday. Scherzer had walked two that inning. "I think Jeff does a terrific job of in-game adjustments," Leyland said.

As for Leyland's comment about Jones not getting enough credit, Jones said: "I don't want any credit. We have good pitchers. They work hard. They pitch really good. "I talk to guys and figure out what they need to work on.

Communication is the most important thing. If something's not right, they can talk about it. If I feel something's not right, I can talk to them." Scherzer said his glove wasn't as much a problem as his tempo early in Tuesday's game. Scherzer said he needed to be more aggressive. "I thought he was carrying (the glove) a little bit lower I 25 OFF I ALL ADIDAS MEN'S APPAREL I 'Excludes sale items AND ROCkBtblBdBZ Irons! "SBS-wIf GolflanD I 1 GUARANTEE -vaSakaSf SShT lounchX ijjA-jjjJf- Bloomfield Hills Plymouth at SkJmmi ft pad One of America's 100 Best Golf Shops FITTING CENTER HHHIIIi 1976 S.

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