Tigers 3, Royals 1
Justin Verlander fell short in his quest for a second straight no-hitter but still pitched eight strong innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Friday evening.
Verlander (4-3), who was looking to complete a feat accomplished only by Cincinnati’s Johnny Vander Meer in June 1938, saw his no-hit broken up on Melky Cabrera’s two-out RBI triple to right in the sixth inning.
The righthander gave up just one more hit to go with three walks and seven strikeouts before Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his ninth save.
Austin Jackson put the Tigers on top with a solo homer in the first inning against Luke Hochevar (3-4), and Alex Avila drove in the eventual game-winner on a fielder's choice in the second.
A solo shot by Jhonny Peralta made it 3-0 in the fourth inning.
Hochevar, who scattered seven hits over six innings, escaped further trouble by pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, and right fielder Jeff Francoeur threw Jackson out at home in the third.