What a night for Detroit Tigers fans! The reigning American League Rookie of the Year put to rest any lingering rumors of a possible sophomore slump in dominant fashion, with a stellar Comerica Park performance. Justin Verlander, the 24-year-old pride of Goochland, Va., denied the Milwaukee Brewers a single basehit in an impressive 4-0 victory tonight at Comerica Park in Detroit. Here’s the bottom line: a 99 MPH heater, a wicked Uncle Charley, 112 pitches, 12 strikeouts, 4 walks, only 3 balls hit outside the infield, and one spectacular double play in the 8th inning.
Drafted by the Tigers in 2004, Verlander (7-2, 2.79 ERA) recorded only the sixth no-hitter in Tigers’ franchise history, the last time coming on April 7, 1984, when Jack Morris mowed down the Chicago White Sox at Old Comiskey. Verlander was barely a year old then. The last Tiger to throw a no-hitter in Detroit was Virgil Trucks, who amazingly performed the feat twice in the same 1952 season.
After a recent slump, Detroit has pulled back into a first-place tie in the American League Central with the Cleveland Indians. Loyal Tiger fans everywhere look forward to many more seasons with Justin Verlander in the rotation. Can’t you hear the ROAR?
Congrats – many happy repeats from the youngsters on the Tiger mound!
Good luck to Mr. Schaeffer, while I’m commenting.
How’s the family coming along?