Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Justin Verlander threw his second career no-hitter and the second in the big leagues this week, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 9-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
Verlander barely missed a perfect game. The only runner he allowed came with one out 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.
Minnesota’s Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
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.
“Just as good as the first,” Verlander said.
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.
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.
Jim Bunning had a no-hitter for the Tigers in 1958, Virgil Trucks had two in 1952 and George Mullin threw the first no-hitter in Tigers history, beating St. Louis 7-0 on July 4, 1912.
This was the fourth time the Blue Jays have been no-hit since entering the AL in 1977. The last was by Texas’ Nolan Ryan, who threw his record seventh no-hitter to beat the Blue Jays on May 1, 1991.
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