Detroit Tigers Notes And Quotes 6-15-11

--RHP Justin Verlander came within five outs of his second no-hitter this season and the third of his career, holding Cleveland without a hit until 2B Orlando Cabrera lined a single to center with one out in the eighth. Verlander gave up a two-out single in the ninth before closing out his eighth win, and second shutout, of the year. "I felt like I could possibly do it again," said Verlander, who gave up the first hit on his fastest pitch of the night, a 99 mph fastball. "I felt really good, was hitting my spots. The crowd was really getting behind me in the sixth and seventh innings. It was fun." He had a season-high 12 strikeouts, achieving nearly a 50-50 split between his fastball and off-speed pitches, the curve and changeup.

"My changeup was really good," Verlander said. "With all the lefties in the lineup, it was a good tool to go to."

CF Austin Jackson robbed RF Shin-Soo Choo of a home run leading off the second, going up above the fence in left center to make the catch.

--LF Andy Dirks has been watching his playing time dwindle, so for one game, at least, he made the most of an opportunity. Dirks was playing because left-handed batters were hitting .314 off Cleveland RHP Justin Masterson. Dirks had three singles, two of them driving in runs. The return of RF Magglio Ordonez and the power production of LF Brennan Boesch mean there is no room for another outfielder most games. Dirks also enjoyed watching RHP Justin Verlander dominate Cleveland. "That's fun to watch from the outfield," he said. "I can even imagine what it's like from the stands. You're setting on that heater -- and he throws hard so you're cheating a little bit -- then he'll throw curveball, curveball, curveball, changeup on you."

--C Alex Avila took grounders at third base in preparation for a possible game at the position when Detroit is playing a string of six games in National League cities, where manager Jim Leyland won't be able to have him and DH Victor Martinez in the lineup at the same time without having one of the two play a different position. Avila caught RHP Justin Verlander's two-hit shutout and contributed a run with a sacrifice fly in the three-run third.

--SS Jhonny Peralta was held out of the lineup. SS Ramon Santiago played short instead, possibly a little reward for his getting the walk-off triple that gave Detroit a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Monday night. Peralta will return to the lineup Tuesday night against his former team.

--3B Brandon Inge visited the Tigers at Comerica Park for the first time since being sidelined by mononucleosis more than a week ago. Inge took some light batting practice and grounders at third base, then remained to watch Detroit take over first place in the AL Central by beating Cleveland 4-0. There is no timetable for Inge's return.

--RF Magglio Ordonez was not in the starting lineup just one day after he was activated from the disabled list. Ordonez went hitless in his return Monday, but that wasn't the reason he did not start in the next game. Manager Jim Leyland, who said Ordonez would play at least the next three games, pointed out that Indians RHP Justin Masterson was holding right-handed batters to a .194 average. For that reason, he went with left-handed-hitting OF Andy Dirks.

BY THE NUMBERS
9 -- Shutouts thrown by Detroit pitchers this season after RHP Justin Verlander's two-hit blanking of Cleveland. The shutout total is tops in the majors.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I'll give you guys a real good scoop. I'm contemplating playing Alex (Avila) at third base a game, maybe. I'm just throwing this out there. I had him take some grounders there, but it's just a thought I'm having. I'm trying to be a little creative." -- Manager Jim Leyland, intimating C Alex Avila might see some action at third when Detroit begins a string of six straight games in National League cities Friday. Leyland won't be able to use a designated hitter in those games.

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