Verlander stakes claim as top young arm in the AL

Jun 13, 2007 - 1:47 PM By Tom Covill PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Justin Verlander is the 24-year-old ace of the defending American League champions. On Tuesday night, he became one of the best pitchers in the game.

Verlander struck out 12 while tossing the first no-hitter in Comerica Park history. He became the first Detroit Tiger since the legendary Jack Morris in 1984 to accomplish the feat and the fifth pitcher overall in franchise history.

The Milwaukee Brewers were the victims - and their continued collapse is a story for another day - because Verlander's stuff would have handcuffed even the hottest of lineups.

The flamethrower touched 102 miles per hour on the Comerica radar gun with his first pitch to J.J. Hardy in the ninth inning and got the shortstop to fly out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez three pitches later on an 88 mph curveball.

"The last two pitches on 0-2 were both curveballs," Hardy said. "I think he was throwing them harder than he had all night. He didn't get on top of the last one, but it is still an 88 mph curveball. It's not like that's an easy pitch to hit."

"I didn't even see the last out," Verlander said. "(Catcher Ivan Rodriguez) was hugging me and yelling in my ear that I couldn't turn around and see (Ordonez) catch the ball."

The veteran Rodriguez tried his hardest to stay away from his starter during the game.

"(Verlander) kept coming up and wanting to talk to me during the game," Rodriguez said. "I told him to stay away and keep doing what he was doing. I didn't want to jinx him."

Verlander and Rodriguez stymied the Milwaukee hitters by relying largely on a dominating fastball while mixing in devastating curveballs.

Verlander walked four hitters and allowed just three balls to be hit out of the infield all night. Not known as a strikeout pitcher, the 12 strikeouts were a career high for the reigning Rookie of the Year.

"When a pitcher throws a no-hitter, it like the catcher also throws the no-hitter," Rodriguez said. "In order to throw, you both have to be of the same mindset. We were there tonight."

The top two hitters in the Brewers lineup - Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino - combined to strike out six times, including back-to-back to begin the final frame.

"It was the most amazing performance I have ever witnessed," said Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge, who homered in the third to give Verlander all the support he would need. "Every pitch was in the black or on the corner."

"He had real dominate stuff," Tigers first baseman Sean Casey said. "I have never seen a pitcher do that before. I saw Randy Johnson strike out 20 batters in 2001, but (Tuesday) topped that."

Verlander's ascension to the top of his profession has been incredibly swift. After being drafted by Detroit with the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, Verlander skyrocketed through the organization before landing in the major-league rotation at the beginning of last season.

With a 17-9 record and a 3.63 ERA in 2006, the righthander easily claimed the Rookie of the Year award. However, the innings increase in 2006 seemed to catch up with the then 23-year-old, as he struggled in September and was largely ineffective in the playoffs.

That led some to question whether Verlander had the arm to dominate hitters for a second straight season. Detroit manager Jim Leyland was not among the doubters.

"He had great stuff," a visibly choked-up Leyland said. "I'm very happy for him, he's something very special. This is something he can take with him forever."

"It had all the makings for a no-hitter," Leyland said. "Verlander made mistakes, and they didn't take advantage of them. We made great plays behind him, and he had great stuff."

Verlander's biggest spot of trouble came in the eighth inning, when he surrendered a one-out walk to Bill Hall. Gabe Gross followed Hall and smoked Verlander's 1-0 offering on the ground up the middle.

But Detroit shortstop Neifi Perez ranged to his left to snare the grounder and then flipped it backhanded to second baseman Placido Polanco, who relayed it to first for the double play.

"This is tough, but I almost feel like we should just tip our hat," Hardy said. "It's not every day you see a guy throwing like that."

Since surrendering seven earned runs in a five-inning loss to Cleveland on May 31, Verlander has tossed 16 consecutive scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.79, the fifth-best mark in the AL.