ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –Detroit’s Justin Verlander outdueled Tampa Bay Rays’ Chris Archer as the Tigers didn’t get a base runner until the seventh inning but scored two unearned runs, avoiding a sweep with a 2-1 win Wednesday.
Jul 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit took advantage in the seventh of two misplays by Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera — an error on what could have been an inning-ending double play, then a two-out line drive from Nick Castellanos that went off his glove for an RBI single.
Verlander (1-3) struck out 10 batters without a walk in eight innings for his first win in eight starts this season. Archer struck out 11, but was doomed by a 32-pitch seventh inning where his defense didn’t help him. Tigers closer Joakim Soria pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save of the season.
Both pitchers took perfect games into the fifth inning, with Archer striking out seven in the first four innings and Verlander fanning five. Archer’s perfect game was broken up with one out in the seventh inning when Jose Iglesias got an infield single.
Indians 12, Royals 1
CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber got some rare offensive support on a day in which he came within two outs of his first career shutout as Cleveland hit three home runs in a six-run sixth inning in routing Kansas City.
The Indians banged out a season-high 18 hits, including four home runs in snapping their six-game losing streak and the Royals’ four-game winning streak.
The right-handed Kluber (6-11) pitched a five-hit complete game, with six strikeouts and one walk. Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (7-7) started for the Royals and gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
