AL roundup: Verlander hurls 2nd no-hitter

Associated Press

TORONTO — With one out to go, Justin Verlander cracked a smile on the mound.

He could afford to enjoy the moment, he'd seen this before.

Verlander threw his second career no-hitter and the second in the big leagues this week, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 9-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

"I was a lot more calm today," Verlander said. "Obviously, there's some adrenaline — you can't help it — but having been through this situation before, I was definitely able to calm myself down a little bit easier than last time."

Minnesota's Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Verlander barely missed a perfect game. The only runner he allowed came with one out in the eighth inning when J.P. Arencibia walked on a full count, with Verlander's 12th pitch to the rookie just an inch or two outside.

"It was as good as it gets," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He just missed by inches of being perfect. It really doesn't get any better than that. That's great stuff."

Verlander fanned Rajai Davis to end it for his fourth strikeout of the game. The overpowering right-hander threw 108 pitches, 74 for strikes, against a Blue Jays lineup missing ailing slugger Jose Bautista.

Mixing fastballs that sizzled over 100 mph with an effective changeup, Verlander became the 30th pitcher in major league history to throw multiple no-hitters, STATS LLC said.

"He was unbelievable today," Arencibia said. "Anytime on your 106th pitch when you're hitting 100, I'd say it's pretty ridiculous stuff."

Verlander calmly pumped his fist and smiled, then shared a hug with catcher Alex Avila before being mobbed by teammates near the mound.

RED SOX 4, TWINS 0: At Boston, Clay Buchholz combined with four relievers on a three-hitter and Boston bounced back from two lopsided losses in a game delayed by rain for more than two hours.

RAYS 8, ORIOLES 2: At Baltimore, Evan Longoria homered and drove in four runs, B.J. Upton hit a three-run drive and Tampa Bay tied a season club record with its seventh straight road win.

Upton's home run made it 7-0 in the fifth. He also doubled twice.

ROYALS 4, ATHLETICS 3: At Kansas City, Mo., Mike Aviles' sacrifice fly scored Jarrod Dyson from third base to give Kansas City its sixth walkoff win this season.

RANGERS 7, YANKEES 5: At Arlington, Texas, Julio Borbon drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run with a squeeze bunt, and Texas held on after blowing an early five-run lead.

INDIANS 4, ANGELS 3: At Anaheim, Calif., Alex White pitched six innings for his first major league win and Cleveland's Shin-Soo Choo doubled home the tying and go-ahead runs to snap an 0-for-18 drought since his arrest on DUI charges.

WHITE SOX 6, MARINERS 0: At Seattle, Gavin Floyd held Seattle to three singles in eight innings.

Floyd (4-2) struck out six and walked two. Tony Pena pitched the ninth. It was the second shutout of the season for the White Sox. The Mariners have been blanked three times.