Verlander Gets 2nd Career No-Hitter
TORONTO (WWJ/AP) - It's a side note that the Tigers beat the Blue Jays 9-0 on Saturday afternoon, as Justin Verlander puts his name in the history books with a no-hitter against Toronto.
As heard on 97.1 The Ticket, Justin Verlander gets his second career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays, even the crowd in Toronto was cheering him on, aware that history was in the making.
A nearly perfect game, Verlander faced the minimum 27 hitters, allowing only one walk in the eighth inning. when J.P. Arencibia walked on a full count, with Verlander's 12th pitch to the rookie just an inch or two outside.
Verlander struck out 12 in his first no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007. This time, he fanned Rajai Davis to end it for his fourth strikeout of the game. The overpowering right-hander threw 108 pitches, 74 for strikes.
Blue Jays rookie David Cooper popped to second on Verlander's first pitch of the ninth. John McDonald followed with a grounder to second.
With the crowd of 23,453 standing and cheering, Davis ended it by striking out swinging on a 2-2 pitch from the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year.
Verlander calmly pumped his fist and smiled, then shared a hug with catcher Alex Avila before being mobbed by teammates near the mound. He was doused with a bucket of ice water by reliever Jose Valverde.
Avila and Jhonny Peralta homered for the Tigers, who have won four of five.
Detroit almost had a perfect game June 2 last season, but umpire Jim Joyce's blown call at first base robbed Armando Galarraga with two outs in the ninth inning. Galarraga finished with a one-hitter.
Minnesota's Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
Prior to Verlander, the last Detroit pitcher to throw a no-hitter was Jack Morris, who did it at Comiskey Park against the Chicago White Sox on April 7, 1984.
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