The Los Angeles Dodgers were quieted by Justin Verlander, had their six-game winning streak snapped and settled for a series win against the Detroit Tigers. Sunday’s series finale saw Verlander and Kenta Maeda each flirt with perfection.
Verlander lost his perfect game on Yasiel Puig’s one-out walk in the fifth inning. He otherwise struck out the side to keep the game deadlocked in a scoreless tie. Verlander wasn’t as lucky the following inning, however.
After retiring Austin Barnes and Kiké Hernandez, he surrendered a home run to former teammate Curtis Granderson. The home run was Granderson’s 20th this season and first with the Dodgers.
What’s more, the extra-base hit was Granderson’s fifth of his career (two doubles, one triple, two home runs) off Verlander in 30 at-bats.
The Dodgers’ first hit of the game came with a stroke of luck as it clanked off the foul pole in right field. They managed only one more off the veteran right-hander — an Austin Barnes single in the eighth inning.
While Maeda was perfect through five innings, he allowed a leadoff single in the sixth and proceeded to implode. The Tigers erupted to score four runs on five hits in the inning and went on for a 6-1 win.
Verlander’s strong eight innings of work may add further intrigue to some of the uncertainty surrounding his future with the Tigers. Granderson believes any team that were to acquire Verlander would gain a pitcher with a strong competitive spirit and with plenty to offer.
