Veteran hurler Justin Verlander pitched eight strong innings, and Justin Upton added a two-run shot as the detroit tigers avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday at Comerica Park. Verlander (9-8) yielded a run on two hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in eight strong innings while Upton ended the Tigers’ four-run sixth inning with a long ball as Detroit snapped the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak and spoiled their shot at a Major League-record 14th straight Interleague win.
With his impressive start, Verlander notched his fourth win in his last five outings while Miguel Cabrera and Dixon Machado contributed a two-run double each as the Tigers improved to 30-30 at home and 54-69 overall.
Verlander was cruising before Curtis Granderson, who was recently acquired by the Dodgers via trade, hit a solo shot in the sixth frame.
Kenta Maeda’s bid for perfect game ended in sixth
Kenta Maeda (11-5) retired the first 15 batters he faced, but his bid for a perfect game was broken in the sixth. Maeda lasted just six innings, giving up four runs on five hits with no walk and seven strikeouts. The Tigers scored two runs against Tony Cingrani in the eighth, sealing their victory and handing the Dodgers just their fourth in their last 25 outings. The Dodgers, who haven't dropped back-to-back games since July 20-21, slipped to 87-35, still the best record in the MLB.
Granderson made mark for Dodgers
In his first outing with the Dodgers last Saturday, Granderson went hitless in four at-bats, and it remained that way in his first two at-bats against Verlander, who struck him out twice. In his third at-bat, Granderson battled out of a 0-2 hole and hit Verlander’s 2-2 slider over the left field wall for his 20th homer of the season.
In the sixth, the Tigers' offense woke up, ending Maeda's perfect game in style after stringing together three straight hits. John Hicks led off with a single to center, and Andrew Romine' followed with a double. Then, Machado brought them both home with a double, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Upton then hit a two-run home run to left field for a 4-1 advantage.
The Dodgers will resume their seven-game road trip with a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates starting Monday. Alex Wood (14-1) will get the start against the Pirates. The Tigers, for their part, will host the New York Yankees, in a three-game series starting Tuesday.
