Verlander flirts with no-hitter, Tigers top Tribe

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander nearly pitched another no-hitter, taking his latest bid into the eighth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers past the Cleveland Indians 4-0 Tuesday night and into first place in the AL Central.

With two no-hitters already on his resume, including one in Toronto last month, Verlander held the slumping Indians hitless until Orlando Cabrera lined a clean single to center with one out in the eighth for his 2,000th career hit.

The hard-throwing right-hander finished with 12 strikeouts in a two-hitter, giving Detroit sole possession of the division lead for the first time this season.

Andy Dirks drove in two runs for the Tigers, who have won 12 of 16.