DETROIT — Two outs were all that separated Justin Verlander from yet another rare achievement.
With the crowd on its feet in anticipation of Verlander’s third no-hitter, the Detroit Tigers ace threw a sharp breaking ball, just off the outside corner. Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison stuck his bat out and flicked a soft line drive toward center field.
“That’s why throwing no-hitters is so difficult,” Verlander said. “It doesn’t take a hard one, it just takes the right placement.”
Harrison’s ninth-inning single broke up Verlander’s latest no-hit bid, but the powerful right-hander was brilliant again, striking out 12 in a 6-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Verlander allowed two walks and settled for his first career one-hitter. He nearly became the sixth major leaguer to throw at least three no-hitters, joining Nolan Ryan (seven), Sandy Koufax (four), Bob Feller (three), Cy Young (three) and Larry Corcoran (three).
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