Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 15

WWW.FREEP.COM 5B WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2011 BASEBALL IliEiS: Verlander expects many more wins Two no-nos in one Twice since he no-hit Toronto on May 7, Justin Verlander has flirted with another no-no. Only five pitchers have recorded two no-hitters in the same season, including a Tiger. The honor roll: 1938: Johnny Vander Meer, Cincinnati Reds (in consecutive starts). 1951 Allie Reynolds, New York Yankees. 1952: Virgil Trucks, Tigers.

1973: Nolan Ryan, California Angels. 2010: Roy Halliday, Philadelphia Phillies (second game in NL playoffs). FROM PAGE IB away. Five outs from becoming the sixth pitcher in big-league history to throw three career no-hitters. Five outs from becoming the sixth pitcher in big-league history to throw two no-hitters in the same season.

Up came Cabrera, who has gone to the playoffs the last four years, with four different teams. He's used to clutch at-bats. On 0-1, Verlander left that fastball up. Cabrera hit a screamer that not even centerfielder Austin Jackson could come close to catching. The crowd announced at 28,128, and actually larger because it was a season-ticket-exchange game stood to give Verlander a sustained ovation.

Verlander got the next four hitters, the last of them Grady Size-more on strikes for the fourth time. Verlander had 12 strikeouts, one short of his career high. That final Sizemore whiff put him within one out of his first career "He did a great job of throwing the change-up tonight. He threw some good curves, too. He's not giving you anything that's easy to hit." Verlander's new style of pitching less pure hard stuff has allowed him to consistently go deeper into games.

For the second time this season, he's now gone at least eight innings in three straight games. Until this season, he'd done that once. In January, Verlander said: "If we don't win the division, it's a disappointment." On Tuesday night, he broke the Tigers' first-place tie with the Indians and gave them sole possession of the Central lead for the first time this season. "Here we stand in first place," Verlander said. "We need to continue to play good baseball and never look back.

Don't worry about the club behind us. Just look forward and continue to win baseball games and make those guys do something unbelievable to catch us. We've got the talent. We should Carlos Santana then blooped an opposite-field single to left. Michael Brantley grounded out, and Verlander had had his second career two-hitter (both against Cleveland; the first came in '09 thanks to Curtis Granderson's homer-saving catch on Sizemore in the ninth.) For the second straight year, Jackson made a catch that allowed heightened hitless tension against Cleveland.

Last June, he went an impossible distance into the left-center gap to run down Mark Grudzielanek's leadoff drive in the ninth off Armando Galarraga. Leading off the second inning Wednesday, the left-handed-swinging Choo walloped a low-and-away fastball to left-center. Jackson retreated to the fence, leaped and caught it, right in front of the Indians' bullpen. Of three folks in that bullpen interviewed afterward, none said for sure Choo's drive would have gone out if Jackson hadn't caught it. Reliever Frank Herrmann doubted it had the trajectory to go out.

American League Rays' Shields blanks Red Sox FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. James Shields pitched his Air-leading third shutout of the season, cooling Boston's red-hot offense and helping the Tampa Bay Rays end the first-place Red Sox's nine-game winning streak with a 4-0 victory on Tuesday night. In addition to cutting into their deficit in the AL East standings, the third-place Rays ruined a Tropicana Field homecoming for Carl Crawford, their ex-teammate who signed a $142 million, seven-year contract with Boston after helping Tampa Bay win the division two of the past three seasons. Crawford went O-for-3 with one strikeout against Shields (6-4), who allowed five hits, walked three and struck out five en route to his AL-leading fourth complete game.

He grounded out with the bases loaded in the first and fouled out in the fourth. Justin Ruggiano homered off knuck-leballer Tim Wakefield (3-2) in the fifth. Tampa Bay added an unearned run without getting a hit in the sixth, when Evan Longoria walked and eventually scored from third on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia's second passed ball of the inning. Casey Kotch-man and John Jaso drove in runs charged to reliever Tommy Hottovy. NEW YORK 12, TEXAS 4: Former Tiger Curtis Granderson homered and drove in four runs and Eduardo Nunez filling in for an injured Derek Jeter sparked a six-run second inning with an RBI single for the host Yankees.

TORONTO 6, BALTIMORE 01 INNINGS): Adam Lind homered off Koji Uehhara leading off the 11th Inning as the host Blue Jays snapped a four-game losing streak. So Jackson, early on, saved the no-hitter, if not the shutout. "It was a big momentum play by Detroit," Sizemore said. "Great play." Beyond the no-hit drama, Verlander showed again that he has become a better pitcher than ever. "He definitely mixes it up well, and he's locating his heater a lot more effectively," Sizemore said.

"He's not leaving fastballs out over the plate to hit. He's mixing it up. win a lot of games. Instant replay AT COMERICA PARK Tigers 4, Indians 0 I WHAT HAPPENED: Justin Verlander lost a no-hitter with one out in the eighth, then finished the two-hit shutout that gave the Tigers sole possession of first place for the first time this season. The Tigers took a 3-0 lead with a three-run third fueled by an error on second baseman Orlando Cabrera when he couldn't corral Don Kelly's pop-up as he retreated for it.

Five innings later, Cabrera rocketed a fastball into center for the single that stopped Verlander's no-hit bid five outs short of the finish. in the seventh. I ON HOLD: The Indians have been having trouble with runners in scoring position. In this one, they never had an at-bat with a runner in scoring position. I WINLESS STREAK: On the night after Phil Coke's winless streak grew to nine starts, so did that of Cleveland right-hander Justin Masterson.

Both have pitched well enough to win more than once in their streaks. The longest winless streak this year is by the White Sox' John Danks, who went winless in his first 11 starts. I CABRERA STEALS: Leyland had Miguel Cabrera take off from first on a 3-2 pitch to Dirks with one out in the fifth. Dirks struck out on an inside pitch, and catcher Santana didn't throw to second. Cabrera got his first stolen base of the season and the 11th of his four-year career with the Tigers.

I RUNNER ON THIRD: In recent days, the Tigers have had trouble either getting runners to third with fewer than two out or driving them in when they got to third with fewer than two out. But in their three-run third, two of the runs came on sacrifice flies. I SENSATIONAL CATCH: Shin-Soo Choo led off the second with a drive to deep left-center. Austin Jackson retreated to the fence, fought the sun, leapt and made the catch that appeared to deny Choo a homer. I THREE STARS: 1.

Verlander, 2. Dirks, 3. Jackson (for that catch). -JOHN LOWE I CLEVELAND FALLS: The Indians had held at least a share of first place in the Central Division since April 7. I WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Jason Donald, the Indians' hitter on the play that denied Armando Galarraga the perfect game last year, started Tuesday night for the Indians' Double-A Akron farm club.

He had a hit before anyone on the big-league Indians did. I NOTHING EXTRA: For the first time this season, the Tigers didn't get an extra-base hit. They were the only big-league team that had gotten one in every game this season. I SAY WHAT? Cleveland's only two wins in its last 11 games were both 1-0 and both pitched by right-hander Carlos Carrasco. This is the fourth time in that 11-game stretch that the Indians have been shut out.

I DIRKS DELIVERS: Tigers manager Jim Leyland went with Andy Dirks over Magglio Ordonez in rightfield because he wanted another left-handed bat in the lineup against right-hander Justin Masterson. Dirks went 2-for-3 off Masterson with an RBI, then added an RBI single off left-hander Rafael Perez. I LEFT-LEANING: The top five hitters in the Cleveland order were left-handed, including two switch-hitters. The only one who got a hit was Carlos Santana, who got a bloop single with two out In the ninth. I PLUNKED: Santana was hit by a pitch with one out in the first.

He was the Indians' only runner until Michael Brantley walked with one out National League Zimmerman-led Nats top Cards FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES WASHINGTON Ryan Zimmerman hit a run-scoring double in his return from the disabled list to spark a six-run seventh-inning as the Washington Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-6, on Tuesday night. Zimmerman had missed 58 games because of an injured abdominal muscle. He was given ovations from the crowd in pregame introductions and for each of his at-bats, with the loudest cheers coming after his double down the rightfield line drove in the Nationals' first run of the seventh. Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman hit home runs for St.

Louis, which has lost a season-high four straight games. NEW YORK 4, ATLANTA 3: Ex-Tiger Jair Jurrjens couldn't slow Jose Reyes, who had three hits, two steals, an RBI and scored two runs for the visiting Mets. Jurrjens (8-3), who began the night with the best ERA in the majors at 182, set season highs with five walks while allowing eight hits and four runs in 53 innings. Reyes' 34th multihit game tops in the majors helped Jonathon Niese (6-5) win his third straight. PHILADELPHIA 9, FLORIDA 1 Cole Hamels (9-2) pitched seven, giving up one run on three hits and striking out six, to become the NL's second nine-game winner.

Domonic Brown hit two of host Philadelphia's season-high five homers. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins hit two-run homers, and Brown had two solo shots to help Philadelphia win its fourth straight game. PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0: Jeff Karstens pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning, and five relievers finished the four-hitter for the visiting Pirates. Garrett Jones drove in the game's only run with a single to rightfield in the second inning. Karstens (4-4) struck out three to extend his scoreless streak to innings.

1 rn i I I KIRTHMON F. OOZIERDetrolt Free Press Catcher Alex Avila congratulates Justin Verlander after his two-hitter against the Indians on Tuesday at Comerica Park. It was Verlander's fifth career shutout. Check out more photos from Justin Verlander's gem in the Tigers' win over the Indians Tigers box score TIGERS 4, INDIANS 0 Hit by pitch Fivout Groundout Strikeout Walk VHit A AA CLEVELAND lb rM bb a G.Snemore 4 0 0 0 0 4 .246 3 0 1 0 0 1 .220 Brantley cf 3 0 0 Oil .283 Mabrerass 3 0 0 0 0 1 .297 Choorf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .231 O.Cabrera 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .242 T.Burt If 3 0 0 0 0 2, .236 foPortalb i r0 i 0 0 0" -242 Hannahan 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2 .228 Totals 28 0 2 0 1 12 DETROIT lb I rM bb AJacksontf 4 12 0 1 0 .258 Kelly 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 .248 Bower, rf 3 11 0 10 .283 Worth 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .368 Mi (abwa lb 2 11 110 .316 Marline! ft 3 0 1 0 10 .318 Dirks Tf 4 0 3 2 0 1 .258 Avilat 3 0 0 1 0 1 .296 Santiago ss 3 0 0 0 1 1 2V Rabum2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .203 Wells rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 .247 Totals 32 4 4 3 4 Clewland .000 000 000 I 2 1 The 30 batters and 27 outs Tracking Justin Verlander's 30 batters faced: 1ST INNING Grady Sizemore called out on strikes 2. Carlos Santana hit by pitch, 3.

Michael Brantley grounded into force out. to third baseman; Santana out at second. 4. Asdrubal Cabrera stuck out swinging. 2ND INNING 5.

Shin-Soo Choo flied out to center. 6. Orlando Cabrera grounded out to shortstop. 7. Travis Buck struck out swinging.

3RD INNING 8. Matt LaPorta ground out to shortstop. 9. Jack Hannahan stuck out swinging. 10.

Grady Sizemore struck out swinging. 4TH INNING 11 Carlos Santana struck out swinging. 11 Michael Brantley struck out swinging. 13. Asdrubal Cabrera grounded out to second.

5TH INNING 14. Shin-Soo Choo called out on strikes. 15. Orlando Cabrera grounded out to third. 16.

Travis Buck flied out to center. A 6TH INNING 17. Matt LaPorta flied out to center. 18. Jack Hannahan struck out swinging.

19. Grady Sizemore called out on strikes. 7TH INNING 20. Carlos Santana flied out to center. 2L Michael Brantley walked.

22. Asdrubal Cabrera grounded into double play, first to shortstop. 8TH INNING 23. Shin-Soo Choo grounded out to third. 24.

Orlando Cabrera singled to center. 25. Travis Buck struck out swinging. 26. Matt LaPorta grounded into force out to short; Cabrera out at second.

9TH INNING 27. Jack Hannahan grounded out to shortstop. 28. Grady Sizemore struck out swinging. 29.

Carlos Santana singed to left. 30. Michael Brantley grounded out to second. A Detroit 003 000 lta 4 11 fc 0 Cabrera (6). 106: Cleveland 3, Detroit 11.

RBI: Mi.Cabrera (461, Dirks 2 (9), Avila (36). SB: AJadcson (10), Mi.Cabrera (1), Dirks (2). Sf: Mi.Cabrera, Avila. Runners left III xorfnt iositii: Detroit I (V.Martinei, Rabgrn 3, Avila 2, Kelly, Worth). Runners moved up: A.Jatkson.

GIDP: A.Cabrera, Avila. DP: Cleveland 1 (O.Cabiera, A Cabrera, 1 (Mi.Cabrera, Santiago). Ii I ir bb ivi era 1 4 2 5 4 109 1 0 0 0 0 4 3.16 1.3? Cleveland Masterson (L 5-5) R.Perer Smith Detroit Verlander (W 8-3) 12 1.35 era 13 0 0 0 0 It bb 9 2 0 0 1 12 117 2.66 00 ooo QOG ooo inherited refiners-sore R.Perez 2-1. HBP: Verlander (C.Santa-M) P8: Santana. Umpires: Nome, Tim MiCleHand; lb, Brian Runge, 2b, D).

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