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Tigers complete sweep of Cardinals

May 20, 2007 - 9:20 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers couldn't change the outcome of last year's World Series but they got a measure of revenge against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Verlander continued a stellar month and the Tigers completed a three-game sweep of their interleague series with the Cardinals with a 6-3 victory Sunday at Comerica Park.

Verlander (5-1) allowed two runs and five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in eight innings to improve to 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last four starts. The 2006 American League Rookie of the Year, Verlander suffered two losses to St. Louis in last season's World Series (Game One and Game Five).

"I threw the ball well in my last two starts," Verlander said. "My mechanics have come around good and I'm locating my fastball for strikes." "I happy with today's performance because my velocity was down from throwing 120 pitches last time. I used the chane-up to get some outs today."

The Tigers, who posted only 11 runs and 32 hits while losing the World Series to the Cardinals in five games, exceeded both marks with 28 runs and 38 hits to sweep this series.

Curtis Granderson led off with his sixth triple of the season and scored on a groundout by Neifi Perez to give Detroit a 1-0 lead.

"It was good to get the sweep," Granderson said. "I would have been more important if we were playing for the the same thing that we played played them last. Right now, winning baseball games is most important."

The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on a solo home run to center field by Chris Duncan but the Tigers answered right back.

Detroit regained the lead in the bottom of the frame on a two-run homer by Brandon Inge, his eight of the season. Sean Casey had a two-run double to highlight a three-run sixth inning for Detroit.

Casey was 7-of-13 with four RBI in the series.

"I really don't know why I hit the Cardinals so well," Casey said. "I know I'm seeing the better and feeling more comfortable. Throughout your career you bound to hit on team better than others. I guess this is mine."

Brad Thompson (2-1), who was making his fourth career start, yielded five runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Cardinals, who lost their fifth straight.

The Cardinals have allowed 42 runs during their five-game losing streak and matched their season-high five-game losing streak from April 27 to May 2.

Bobby Seay recorded the final out for the Tigers to pick-up his first career save.

"I didn't know it was a save situation," Seay said. " I just wanted to get the out." I didn't find out that it was a save till Chad (Durbin) told me on the field."