Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander lost his bid for a no-hitter in the ninth inning Wednesday night when the Angels' Chris Iannetta hit a double that landed on the left-field line.
Verlander finished with a complete-game, one-hit shutout and a 5-0 victory. He threw 112 pitches, with nine strikeouts and two walks.
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Verlander was vying for his third career no-hitter. He threw one in 2007 and another in 2011.
"I was feeling it, for different reasons," Verlander told reporters after the game. "In the past, not that it was ever easy, but I had never been through a tough time in my career yet. This has a special meaning because of the way the fans were treating me and reacting.
"I know the fans wanted me back just as badly as I have and really, from the sixth inning, they were unbelievable. They really got my goosebumps coming off the mound in the seventh inning with the way they were reacting and it was really nice to hear that."
Verlander also was trying to become the second major league pitcher in less than a week to throw a no-hitter and the sixth overall this season. The Astros' Mike Fiers no-hit the Dodgers on Aug. 21.
At one point, Verlander struck out five straight batters, including Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in a seventh inning in which struck out the side, before walking David Murphy to lead off the eighth.
"You always start to think about it probably in the third or fourth inning. But I really keyed the seventh inning with Trout and Pujols coming up, saying, 'If I can get through this I've got a good shot,'" Verlander said. "And I've got to tip my cap to Iannetta. He hit a pretty good pitch. My fastball's been working for me all night. I went with it."
Verlander (2-6) didn't make his first start this season until June 13 after suffering a triceps injury in spring training. He's struggled for most of the season, posting a 5.05 ERA through his first nine starts, but has allowed just one earned run and struck out 31 batters in his last four starts combined.
"It's been nice to be healthy, feel good out on the mound and be able to throw the way I'd like," Verlander said.
Sporting News Media's Tom Gatto contributed to this report.