Tigers' Verlander pitches his first no-hitter
DETROIT: Detroit's Justin Verlander pitched the first no-hitter of his career on Tuesday to guide the Tigers to a 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 24-year-old right-hander walked four and struck out a career-high 12 to blank the NL Central-leading Brewers.
It was the second no-hitter of the season after Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox shut down the Texas Rangers on April 18.
"After the first couple of innings, I knew I had good stuff going," Verlander told reporters.
Verlander's no-hitter was the Tigers' first since Jack Morris on April 7, 1984 and the first at home since Virgil Trucks on Aug. 25, 1952. It was the first no-hitter thrown at Detroit's Comerica Park and only the sixth in Tiger history.
The win pulled the Tigers into a first-place tie with the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central.
Verlander (7-2 this season) was clocked regularly at 99 miles per hour throughout the 112-pitch effort and hit 101 on the radar gun in the ninth inning. His teammates also helped him out with some excellent defense.
"He had ridiculous stuff tonight," said Milwaukee outfielder Corey Hart.
Verlander struck out the first two hitters in the ninth inning and got J.J. Hardy on a fly ball to Magglio Ordonez in right field for the final out, triggering an on-field celebration.
"When I see the starting pitcher jumping up and down and happy, it makes me very proud," said catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who caught the second no-hitter of his proud career.
"When a pitcher pitches a no-hitter, it's like the catcher pitches a no-hitter too because you work together.
"It was like winning in the World Series."
Brandon Inge hit a solo homer and drove in two runs to beat Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan (7-7).
Verlander, the AL Rookie of the Year last season, was 17-9 in helping the Tigers to the World Series, where they lost to the St Louis Cardinals.
Yankees' seventh straight
The surging New York Yankees stormed to a seventh straight victory with a 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, the home team taking the first game in an Interleague rematch of the 2001 World Series.
Wang Chien-ming worked the first seven innings and Bobby Abreu hit a three-run homer off Brandon Webb in the first inning as the Yankees got back to the .500 mark (31-31) for the first time since they were 16-16 on May 9.
Wang (6-4) was far from his best and allowed a solo homer to Chad Tracy, but he made it through seven inning before Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera pitched a frame apiece to seal the win.
Rivera's eighth save of the season ensured the Yankees, who have their first seven-game winning streak in over two years, made it 10 wins in their last 12 games.
"We're playing much better," Rivera told reporters.
"It feels good to be back at .500. We can't stop there."
Wang has won his last three starts and five of his last six.
Webb (6-4), who had won three straight, was the NL Cy Young winner last year, while Wang was the runner-up in the AL.
The Diamondbacks have lost four of their last five after going on an 11-1 tear.
*The Florida Marlins scored a 3-0 home win over the Indians as Scott Olsen gave up three hits in seven innings and Miguel Olivo broke a scoreless tie with a three-run double in the seventh.
Fausto Carmona saw his seven-decision winning streak snapped.
Agencies
(China Daily 06/14/2007 page24)
