Detroit Tigers hurler Verlander lets no-no get away in ninth

Detroit hurler Justin Verlander lost his bid for a third career no-hitter when he gave up a lead-off double in the ninth inning, the only run he surrendered in the Tigers' 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Angels catcher Chris Iannetta belted a 2-2 pitch up the left field line to end Verlander's bid to become just the sixth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record three or more no-hitters.

Verlander walked two and struck out nine as he faced just one batter over the minimum.

The 32-year-old right-hander threw his first no-hitter on June 12, 2007, against the Milwaukee Brewers and recorded his second on May 11, 2011, against the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Cy Young and Larry Corcoran are the only pitchers with at least three no-hitters.

The only baserunner Verlander allowed in the first seven innings was third baseman Kaleb Cowart, who drew a one-out walk in the third frame.

Verlander then induced second baseman Ryan Jackson to hit into a double play.

Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias made a nice backhanded stop and threw out Angels center fielder Mike Trout in the fourth to keep Verlander's no-hit bid alive.

Verlander struck out the first batter he faced, right fielder Kole Calhoun, and struck out five straight Angels batters in the sixth and seventh innings.

Detroit's bats backed Verlander's effort, with third baseman Nick Castellanos belting a solo homer in the second inning and first baseman Miguel Cabrera extending his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez blasted his 34th homer in the same frame.
Source: AFP