BALTIMORE – After an uncharacteristic performance in the All-Star game Justin Verlander got back on track today.
He struck out eight Baltimore Orioles in eight innings of work and dominated the Orioles.
José Valverde pitched in the ninth-inning in the Tigers shut out the Orioles 4-0.
“He was just in total command and I knew he would be, particularly after the All-Star Game,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Only two Orioles batters got past first base. Verlander allowed just three hits in the Tigers won for the seventh time in the last eight games.
Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera each homered for the Tigers to support Verlander.
Earlier in the day the Orioles announced that starter Jason Hammel would undergo knee surgery and need at least a month to recover.
Other American League Scores
Texas 4 – Seattle 0 – Ian Kinsler hit his 10th home run of the season to back the pitching of Matt Harrison, who won his 12th game of the season tying Tampa Bay’s David Price for the most in the American League.
Oakland 9 – Minnesota 4 – Yoenis Cespedesat four hits, three RBIs including a home run and the A’ beat the Minnesota Twins 9-4. Jonny Gomes who also homered, finished with three hits and two RBI.
Chicago 2 – Kansas City 1 – Adam Dunn hit a home run for the third straight game and Chris Sale allowed just one run over eight innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1
Boston 7 – Tampa Bay 4 – The Tampa Bay Rays got to Josh Beckett for three runs in the first inning, but he then settled down and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3. James Shields allowed six runs and double digit hits for the fourth consecutive game.
Toronto 3 – Cleveland 0 – The Toronto Blue Jays got a strong pitching performance from Carlos Villanueva and the Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0. Villanueva struck out 8 over 6 innings. José Batista had two hits for the Blue Jays.
Los Angeles 10 – New York 8 – Neither Jered Weaver or Ivan Nova pitched well today in New York. In what turned out to be a slugfest the Los Angeles Angels beat the New York Yankees 10-8 .
Erik Aybar, Albert Pujols, and Mark Trumbo all homered for the Angels. For the Yankees Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Eric Chavez, and Mark Teixeira homered.
