Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 8

8 A WEDNESDAY. JUNE 13, 2007 FROM THE FRONT PAGE DETROIT FREE PRESS WWW.FREEP.COM LOWE I At 24, Verlandcr becomes first Tiger to throw no-hitter at home since '52 From Page 1A May 15, 1952. He won, 1-0, when hitter was the first in Detroit since Ryan's. "That's really special to me," Verlander said, "because that's a guy I idolized growing up." Then Verlander ended the group interview at his locker. "I've got to go call my parents," he said.

Contact JOHN LOWE at 313-223-4053 or jlowea freepress.com. Chech out his Tigers bhg at www.ft-eep.comsporta. troit. The first was by George Mullin in 1912, the first year of the ballpark that became known as Tiger Stadium. There have been three Tigers no-hitters on the road since Trucks' 1952 no-hitter in Detroit.

Trucks threw one later in '52 in New York; Jim Bunning threw one in Boston in 1958; and then Jack Morris tossed one on done several times the last few seasons: He made a running, sliding catch. "I know he was throwing a no-hitter, and I said, 'I've got to catch that Ordonez said. It was one of only three balls Verlander allowed hit to the outfield. "He had ridiculous stuff tonight," Hart told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He threw his fastball really hard and his other two pitches (curve and change-up) were plus-plus.

His stuff was awesome." After Ordonez's catch on Hart, Milwaukee's only remaining sniff at a hit came on Gross's double-play ball. Verlander, 24, threw only the third Tigers' no-hitter in De the I lgers scored in the bottom of the ninth. The Brewers, the leaders of the National League Central, had gotten 22 hits in their previous game, Sunday night in Texas. But offensive momentum doesn't carry from game to game, because this is the sport where the defense has the ball. As Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver is credited with saying, "Momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher." Corey Hart, wearing No.

bid for Brewers hit No. 1 in the seventh. He hit a sinking one-out liner to right. Unlike the game-ending fly ball to right, this was not an easy out. But Ordonez did something he has the embrace of catcher Ivan Rodriguez when Ordonez hauled in what he called "an easy fly ball" not far from the wall Ver-lander's teammates mobbed him on the mound, then waited in a swarm for him by the dugout after he got handshakes and hugs from manager Jim Ley-land and the coaching staff.

"Skip gave me a big hug," Verlander said of Leyland. "He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. I know how he feels about me, and he knows how I feel about him. It didn't need to be said with words." It wasn't a sellout, but the Co-merica Park crowd was large: 33,555.

If that was your five-card hand in poker, it would be a NAME A DENTIST! the NBC Game of the Week in Chicago in the Tigers' 9-0 start in 1984. So, all told, Verlander threw the sixth no-hitter in Tigers history. That's one fewer than Nolan Ryan threw by himself. One of Ryan's no-hitters came for the California Angels at Tiger Stadium in 1973. Verlander was told his no- Find Out If Consumers are Naming You By Attending the TOMA Seminar.

For info Call 586-826-7387 or www.detroitmedia.comtoma RESEARCH full house. And it sounded like a full house, the way the crowd was on its feet and roaring the entire ninth inning and Verlan der was reaching a place on the radar gun even he doesn't go to regularly: 101 m.p.h. Asked what single thing in his game was at a higher level than usual, Verlander said: "All of it. Everything. If I knew why, it's something I'd like to figure out." The final score, if anyone could remember, was 4-0.

Brandon Inge gave Verlander a 1-0 lead with a homer in the third inning. Then Curtis Granderson's 13th triple was the key blow in a two-run sixth for a 3-0 lead. Those second and third runs Definition: A sweet offer that puts $50 in your pocket when you open a Direct Plus Checking Account with free Online Bill Pay or direct deposit. Not to mention, you'll get free Online Banking, a free debit card and free access to over 1500 ATMs It's convenient checking that's too good to pass up. To see how we can make more possible for you, visit your local LaSalle Bank branch, call (800) 697-3300, or visit lasallebank.com.

were crucial to the no-hitter, according to infield coach Rafael Belliard. If the Tigers had been ahead, 1-0, Belliard said shortstop Neifi Perez would have played in after a one-out walk in the eighth. "We would have been going for the double play because it was a one-run game and we don't want to give them a chance at a two-out homer to go ahead," Belliard said. But with the three-run lead, Perez played farther back. "When we're up by two or three, we're playing for one out," Belliard said.

pwwjgyjjjf; mi LaSalle Bank ABN AMRO If Perez had been playing in, then Gabe Gross's hard grounder might have gotten past hirri. But because Perez was back, he smothered Gross's smash to his left. "He was in the right position at the right time," Belliard said. Then Perez, playing for ailing Larlos Guillen, flipped while on the ground to second baseman Placido Polanco, who made a wondrous relay to first. The Tigers still got the inning-ending double play.

"That ball was smoked, but it was right at Perez," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "That's more good defensive positioning than a great play." Without that double play, Prince Fielder would have been up with two out in the ninth. Instead, Cecil's son was on deck when Hardy flied to right. The losing pitcher was Jeff Suppan, who now has two distinctions in Detroit milestone lore. He was the starter for visiting Kansas City in the final game at Tiger Stadium.

fN. Tiger Stadium was still a nice, middle-age park known as Briggs Stadium when it hosted what until Tuesday had been the last no-hitter in Detroit by a Tiger. Trucks threw it against the Washington Senators on I Vv i 1 4 4 I MARr SCHROEDER Detroit Free Press REMEMBER WHEN? Catcher Lance to you fcr tax Bonus credrted at account opening and for NEW ZZ ccZ ac3XZS pother offer, is not transferable, and may be cornered torn, opened are subiect to applicable terms and condfiionY Direct Plus CMrnhfTmnlT depOTit' 0umH ofter withdrawn at any time All accou once during each monthly statement cycle. Without direct deposit, there a 5 monthly Service fee PeiJ deposits made to your account at least SISE nors.Micha.NorthC.nt.na. Parrish hugs Jack Morris after the last Tigers no-hitter, April 7, 1984, against the Chicago White Sox..