Tigers' Verlander throws no-hitter

TORONTO -- Justin Verlander threw his second career no-hitter and the second in the big leagues this week, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 9-0 victory over the host Toronto Blue Jays Saturday.

Verlander barely missed a perfect game. The only runner he allowed came with one out in the eighth inning when J.P. Arencibia walked on a full count. Verlander's 12th pitch to the rookie was just an inch or two outside.

Minnesota's Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Verlander (3-3) struck out 12 in his first no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007. This time, he fanned Rajai Davis to end it for his fourth strikeout of the game. The righthander threw 108 pitches, 74 for strikes, against a Blue Jays lineup missing ailing slugger Jose Bautista. "Just as good as the first," Verlander said.

He became the 30th pitcher in major-league history to throw multiple career no-hitters.

"I felt like tonight I had really good control of my fastball, and I just used that to my advantage," said Verlander, the 2006 AL rookie of the year. "My breaking ball was surprisingly my worst pitch. That's probably indicative of why I didn't have many strikeouts. I was just able to move the ball around and keep guys off balance and get some quick outs."

Prior to Verlander, the last Detroit pitcher to throw a no-hitter was Jack Morris, who did it at Comiskey Park against the Chicago White Sox on April 7, 1984.

"I was a lot more calm today," Verlander said. "Obviously, there's some adrenaline -- you can't help it -- but having been through this situation before, I was definitely able to calm myself down a little bit easier than last time."

It was the 17th time there have been two major-league no-hitters within a five-day span and the first since Al Leiter for Florida against Colorado on May 11, 1996, and Dwight Gooden for the Yankees against Seattle on May 14.

Verlander has pitched two of the seven no-hitters in Tigers history. Virgil Trucks also had two for Detroit, both in 1952. This was the fourth time the Blue Jays have been no-hit since entering the AL in 1977. The last was by Texas' Nolan Ryan, who threw his record seventh no-hitter to beat the Blue Jays on May 1, 1991.

Avila and Jhonny Peralta homered for the Tigers, who have won four of five.

Toronto first baseman Adam Lind left in the seventh with tightness in his lower back.

The Tigers have at least one extra-base hit in all 34 games this season. Detroit opened the 1986 season with extra-base hits in their first 51 games, the longest streak in team history.