• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Verlander eyes record books in opener with Royals

May 13, 2011 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers' current season-long winning streak began with Justin Verlander's second career no-hitter. They would love for it to continue with a little more history.

Verlander takes aim at becoming only the second player in major league history to pitch back-to-back no-hitters, and will do so against a team he has dominated in his career: the Kansas City Royals.

Verlander opens up this three-game set at Comerica Park six days after his no- hitter versus Toronto on Saturday. The right-hander struck out four, including the final batter he faced in the 9-0 victory. Only a walk to the Blue Jays' J.P. Arencibia in the eighth inning prevented him from throwing the first perfect game in Tigers history.

"He was totally in control from the start. Almost perfect," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "He's got two [no-hitters] now and that doesn't surprise me. And it wouldn't surprise me if he gets another one at some point in his career. That's how good his stuff can be."

The second overall pick of the 2004 draft, Verlander became the 28th pitcher in the modern era to record multiple no-hitters. His first came against Milwaukee in interleague play on June 12, 2007 with the Brewers being managed by current Royals skipper Ned Yost at the time.

Of course, the talk of Johnny Vander Meer now begins as the former Cincinnati hurler is the only player in major league history to throw back-to-back no- hitters, doing so in June of 1938.

"Obviously, it's something that would be amazing," Verlander told Detroit's website of matching Vander Meer's feat. "It's one of those records that probably will never be broken. But records are made to be broken.

"Just treat it as another start. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. Things have to go in your favor for something like that to occur. Things really have to go in your favor to do it twice. Not saying it couldn't happen, not saying it ever will, but I'd like to say I'm a guy who could do it."

The Royals are also a favorable opponent for Verlander, who is now 3-3 with a 3.16 earned run average in eight starts this season. The 28-year-old is 10-2 with a 2.58 ERA and one shutout in 16 career starts versus Kansas City, which as a club is hitting .226 against him.

Even if he can't pitch another no-hitter, Verlander would at least like to help his team win a sixth straight game. Detroit extended its run by capping a quick two-game sweep of the Twins on Wednesday. Brandon Inge's run-scoring triple in the ninth inning helped Detroit to a 9-7 victory in the finale, while Victor Martinez homered and posted his third straight three-hit game. He has 10 RBI in that span and is batting .500 (20-for-40) with two homers and 14 RBI over an 11-game hitting streak, a span that was broken up by a 13-game absence due to a right groin injury.

Miguel Cabrera had a two-run double in Wednesday's win before being ejected in the sixth inning for arguing a called third strike.

Tasked with going against Verlander and Detroit's streaking offense, which has plated 43 runs over this five-game winning streak, is Kansas City's Luke Hochevar.

The top pick of the 2006 draft is 3-3 with a 4.91 ERA in eight starts this season and is coming off a no-decision versus Oakland on Saturday even though he gave up just a run on four hits in seven-plus innings. He struck out three without a walk and also didn't allow a home run after being tagged for four in his previous two outings.

The longball nearly cost the 27-year-old righty in a win over Detroit on April 10 as Cabrera, Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta all took him deep over his seven- inning outing. However, he survived for a 9-5 win, striking out a season-best six, and is 3-3 with a 4.40 ERA in eight career games versus the Tigers, including seven starts.

The Royals head to Detroit with a bit of momentum, having won two straight over the Yankees to win a series in the Bronx for the first time since 1999. That has them 3 1/2 games off the lead in the AL Central and a half-game up on the Tigers in the standings.

Kansas City rookie Eric Hosmer enjoyed his first series at Yankee Stadium, going 4-for-9 in the two wins, homering in each game. His solo shot in Thursday's 11-5 win sparked a six-run second inning.

"I can definitely get used to [winning in New York]," said Hosmer, the third overall pick of the 2008 draft. "It's fun when the crowd leaves early and you put up a good amount of runs on them in the first innings."

Former Yankee Melky Cabrera also homered and Billy Butler ended with four hits and a pair of runs batted in.

The Royals took two of three at Detroit from April 8-10.