43
Verlander helps Tigers avoid Pittsburgh sweep
Photo
Pirates pitcher Kevin Correia delivers during the first inning of their game against the Tigers in Pittsburgh on Sunday. He gave up just two runs in six innings but was outmatched by Justin Verlander.
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Justin Verlander “didn’t feel particularly great” Sunday.
So what did he do on a ho-hum day?
He threw a five-hitter, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2.
“We had the horse going,” said Detroit manager Jim Leyland, “and he pitched like the horse is supposed to pitch.”
Quintin Berry hit a two-run shot for his first major league home run. He also scored the go-ahead run on Delmon Young’s single in the eighth, an inning after Garrett Jones tied it with a two-run homer.
“Stupid pitch,” Verlander said. “Bad location. All of the above.”
Five weeks after he took a no-hitter into the ninth against the Pirates in Detroit on May 18, that was the only mistake Verlander (8-4) would make.
He had allowed only two infield hits through six innings Sunday before Pedro Alvarez singled with one out in the seventh. Jones followed by launching a 1-1 changeup into a sliver of seating in right-center.
Verlander retired all six Pirates he faced to close out the game after the Tigers retook the lead. Verlander struck out three in the final two innings to give him seven in the game.
Andrew McCutchen entered on a 15-for-28 tear but capped an 0-for-4 day against Verlander by flying out to begin the ninth. Casey McGehee and Alvarez struck out to end the game.
“That was not an easy order to go through in the ninth inning, and he took charge of that ninth inning pretty good,” Leyland said.
Verlander needed 117 pitches to toss his fourth complete game of the season and 18th of his career. He has won three consecutive starts.
Pittsburgh remained one game behind the Cincinnati Reds, who lost to Minnesota, in the NL Central.
The Tigers matched their run total for the first two games of the series combined before many in the crowd of 35,179 had even settled into their seats. The series drew 111,878 to PNC Park, the fifth-most for a three-game series at the 12-year-old ballpark.
Pittsburgh had won 16 of its past 20 at home and had already clinched its fifth consecutive series victory at PNC Park with consecutive 4-1 wins Friday and Saturday.
A sweep appeared out of the question once Verlander was handed a two-run lead. But Jones tied it with his ninth homer and second in four games.
“I was geared up to hit the fastball, but he hung a changeup and I was able to recognize it, stay through it and get the good part of the bat on it,” Jones said.
The tie lasted only a half-inning. Young singled home Berry after Prince Fielder was intentionally walked by Chris Resop (0-3).
After allowing the home run two batters into the game, Correia retire 12 of the next 15 and did not allow another runner to advance past second.
“I pitched pretty good after (Berry’s homer),” Correia said, “but it’s tough to spot a guy like Verlander two runs. I knew after that that’s all I could give up if I was going to keep us in the game.”