Verlander, early offense helps Tigers defeat White Sox, 7-4

DETROIT Catcher James McCann wasn’t sure where the late inning velocity came from, but Justin Verlander did.

Verlander threw five consecutive fastballs none less than 98 mph to Geovany Soto with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning.

Verlander threw a 99 mph fastball for a ball on a 2-2 count, then got Soto, who represented the tying run, to swing and miss at a 98 mph heater. That was Verlander’s 112th and final pitch.

The Tigers went on to beat the White Sox, 7-4, on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park.

“I don’t know where it came from, again that’s impressive,” McCann said of the velocity Verlander reached in his final inning of work. “Especially in September, late in the season. Finding a way to bear down and reach back for all you’ve got for a couple pitches. Very impressive. That’s vintage Ver.”

Many have doubted whether Verlander would ever be able to touch that velocity again following muscle core surgery.

“That’s probably, in terms of velocity, probably the best velocity we’ve seen all year in that one inning,” said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. “Prior to that, he pitched outstanding. They just strung a few hits together. Scored a run, but he was able to stop the bleeding.”

Asked how it felt to throw that hard again, Verlander said: “It felt great.

“I mean, I was giving effort, obviously. But that same effort level earlier was 96, 97 earlier in the year. I think all the work and everything that I’ve put in is just starting to show itself.”

Verlander said his emotions were running high in that situation.

“A lot of adrenaline,” he said. “To be able to get out of it in that fashion felt really good. “

Verlander said he’s not trying to prove the doubters wrong about his velocity.

“Like I’ve said a few times, I’ll let those people talk and I’ll go out there and pitch,” Verlander said.

Verlander allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings. He allowed three walks with eight strikeouts.

He gave up one run in the seventh. With one out, he gave up a pair of singles, then an RBI double to Alexei Ramirez. With runners on second and third, Verlander got Carlos Johnson to strike out at a 96 mph fastball. After giving up a walk to Gordon Beckham to load the bases, he finished his outing with the strikeout of Soto.

The Tigers gave Verlander the most run support of any of his starts this season, jumping out to a 6-0 lead after three innings.

Rajai Davis went 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored and Victor Martinez went 2-for-4, including his 200th career home run.

Martinez hit a two-run home run in the first inning, sending a line drive over the fence in right for his 11th home run of the season.

He was intentionally walked as part of a four-run third inning.

After a pair of one-out singles by Davis and Ian Kinsler, Soto, the White Sox catcher, made a throw to second that hit Davis as he returned to the bag. Davis and Kinsler advanced on the play and the White Sox decided to intentionally walk Martinez.

J.D. Martinez followed with a two-run ground-rule double to left. Nick Castellanos added an RBI single and J.D. Martinez scored when Alex Avila grounded out to short for the fourth run of the inning.

White Sox right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas allowed six runs on six hits and two walks over three innings with three strikeouts.

The White Sox cut the Tigers’ lead with a two-out, two-run home run by Melky Cabrera.

The Tigers took a 7-2 lead in the fourth. Kinsler followed a two-out triple by Davis with an RBI infield single.

Cabrera added an RBI double off lefty Blaine Hardy in the fourth to cut the Tigers’ lead to three runs.

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