Tigers 4, Indians 0
Justin Verlander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and finished with 12 strikeouts as the Detroit Tigers took over sole possession of first place in the American League Central with a 4-0 victory over the visiting Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.
Rookie Andy Dirks drove in two, and Miguel Cabrera added an RBI for the Tigers, who moved one game ahead of the Indians.
Cleveland, which led by seven games as recently as May 23, has dropped 15 of 20 to fall out of the top spot for the first time since April 6.
Verlander (8-3), who already has one no-hitter this season and two in his career, dominated the Indians from the start, striking out a pair in the first inning. He finally allowed his first hit with one out in the eighth - a sharp single to center by Orlando Cabrera - and ended up yielding two in his second shutout of the season.
Verlander got all the support he would need in the third, when Detroit got to Justin Masterson (5-5) for three runs. Masterson has not won since April 26.