Lighting Strikes Twice

Verlander tossed his second career no-hitter
Saturday in Toronto.

Saturday afternoon in Toronto marked yet another historic day in the young career of Detroit Tigers ace, Justin Verlander.

Verlander tossed his second career no-hitter in the Tigers' 9-0 win at Rogers Centre. It's the second no-hitter thrown of the 2011 season after division rival, Francisco Liriano, threw the first in Chicago Tuesday night for the Minnesota Twins.

After not having a no-hitter be changelled in the first month of the season, two come within less of a week of one another.

It's the seventh no-hitter in Tiger history, and Verlander becomes the 28th player in history to throw multiple no-hitters. 

The last player to accomplish that feat, excluding the postseason, was Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle. He would toss his first no-hitter in a 2007 game against the Texas Rangers and reached new heights by throwing a perfect game in 2009, capped off by one of the most memorable catches in baseball history by defensive replacement DeWayne Wise.

Verlander's first no-hitter also came back in '07, no-hitting the Milwaukee Brewers during Interleague play.

The three-time All-Star had been perfect through the first seven innings, but had it broken up by walking a Blue Jays rookie. Catcher J.P. Arencibia battled Verlander with an epic 12 pitch at-bat in the eighth inning -- an at-bat that saw the twelfth pitch sail outside at 100 mph.

That would be the only blunder of the day by Verlander.

The slender right-hander showed great command from the gecko, throwing 74 of his first 108 pitches for strikes. Verlander struck out only four batters Saturday compared to in his first no-no when he struck out 12 Brewers. It was his third of the young season bringing, his record to .500.

But if it wasn't known before, Verlander possesses the repertoire to throw a no-hitter every time out with his upper 90s fastball and 12-6 curveball.

The 28-year-old was the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year, winning 17 games for the Tigers. That same season, also in his rookie season in Detroit, manager Jim Leyland clinched the franchise's first wild card berth and helped the Tigers win their first AL Pennant in 22 years.

Verlander started Game 1 of that World Series and was opposed by fellow rookie Anthony Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the first time in the series' 103-year existence that two rookies faced off to open the Fall Classic

After avoiding the dreadful sophomore slump in '07, it would come a year later for Verlander, losing a career-worst 17 games.

Since that time Verlander has become the horse of the Detroit staff, throwing 200 innings each of the last four years and striking out 200 batters in back-to back seasons, including leading the majors with 269 in 2009. He has won as many as 19 games in a season and finished as high as third in the AL Cy Young voting.

The final out was recorded by punching out right fielder Raja Davis on a 2-2, 87 mph breaking ball.

Detroit is currently two games under .500 and six and half games back of the division leading Indians, who are in Anaheim for a weekend series with the Angels.

Despite the slow start, with the trio of Venezuelans at the heart of their order and two power arms at the front of their rotation, Detroit will be in the hunt for their first AL Central title in franchise history. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan holds the record for no-hitters thrown in a career with seven. The former first-round pick has a ways to go if he wants to reach that mark.

In the mean time, Motown will be rocking and waiting to congratulate their ace with maybe another on the horizon.