Vintage Verlander vexes hot Dodgers

Tigers break up pitching duel late

DETROIT — Justin Verlander approached this start like a postseason game, fully aware of how tough the Los Angeles Dodgers are to beat.

After five innings, Verlander had a no-hitter — but so did Kenta Maeda.

Then Detroit broke through for four runs in the sixth, giving Verlander more margin for error.

“It’s impossible to really create a playoff atmosphere without being in the playoffs, but I tried my best to do that,” Verlander said. “There was that much more focus and intensity in every pitch.”

Verlander allowed two hits in eight innings, and the Tigers beat the Dodgers 6-1 on Sunday, snapping their six-game skid and halting a six-game win streak by Los Angeles.

The Tigers star allowed a home run to Curtis Granderson in the sixth, but shortly after his no-hit bid ended, Detroit broke up Maeda’s and took the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Verlander (9-8) walked one and struck out nine.

“Verlander certainly showed today that he’s still an ace,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He hasn’t had the career he’s had by accident. He’s a great pitcher.”

Maeda (11-5) retired the first 15 Detroit batters before allowing five hits in the sixth. He was pulled after that inning and lost for the first time in seven starts.

Verlander has pitched two no-hitters in his career. He retired the first 13 Los Angeles hitters, taming the team with by far the majors’ best record.

“If Justin Verlander’s pitching well, it doesn’t matter. It could be the ’27 Yankees,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “The numbers are going to look pretty good for Ver at the end of the game if he’s pitching like he did today.”

Verlander walked Yasiel Puig on a full count in the fifth, and Granderson’s drive to right field an inning later hit the pole for a homer. The only other hitter to reach base against Verlander was Austin Barnes, who singled in the eighth.

John Hicks lined a clean single to left-center to lead off the bottom of the sixth and break up Maeda’s perfect game. Andrew Romine followed with a double, and Dixon Machado hit a two-run double that put the Tigers up 2-1.

Justin Upton added a tworun homer later in the inning, his 26th home run of the season.

Carlos Osorio The Associated Press Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander delivers in the fifth inning of Detroit’s 6-1 win over the Dodgers on Sunday at Comerica Park. He held Los Angeles to one run on two hits and one walk and struck out nine in eight innings.