All-stars Inge, Verlander spur Tigers’ rout

DETROIT -- All-star Brandon Inge said he wasn't sure how to prepare for tonight's Home Run Derby, but the Cleveland Indians gave him a good chance to warm up.

Inge, a former VCU standout, homered twice yesterday to give him 21 on the season, and the Detroit Tigers rode a strong pitching performance from ex-Goochland High standout Justin Verlander to rout the Indians 10-1.

"I don't know what I'm going to do out there, but I'm also not sure how I've gotten to 21 in the first place," said Inge, a Lynchburg native. "I'm just trying to play hard and still have fun, and that will be my plan for St. Louis, too."

Inge, 32, enters the all-star break with 21 home runs and 58 RBI. His previous career bests came in 2006, when he hit 27 homers with 83 RBI.

Fellow all-star Verlander (10-4) went seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and three walks. He struck out eight, giving him 149 for the season -- the most by a Tiger pitcher at the all-star break since Mickey Lolich had 156 in 1972. He also threw 116 pitches, which may affect his availability for tomorrow's All-Star Game.

"I thought I threw the ball pretty well, but the guys make it pretty easy when they put up 10 runs," said Verlander, who is 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA against Cleveland this season.

"We've seen a pitcher this year that has been about as good against one team as you can be," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "When he's got all three of his pitches going, he's as good as anyone, and that's what happened today." Added Tigers manager Jim Leyland, "He's been pretty special this year. That's why he's getting on that plane to St. Louis."

Inge and Clete Thomas combined for eight RBI, with Thomas falling a double short of the cycle.

"I thought about the double when I was coming up the last time, but I was trying to keep my mind clear," said Thomas, who has replaced Magglio Ordonez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. "This was just a great day -- you almost hate to have a break when you are on a roll."

Tomo Ohka (0-3) took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk in 32/3 innings.

"My fastball was up," he said. "I felt OK, but I kept making bad pitches."

Cleveland (35-54) has lost 11 of its last 16 games and 19 of 26. The Indians enter the break 14 games behind first-place Detroit.

"It's been a disappointment," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "There's a long way to go, and I still feel good about the lineup we are putting out there every day, but we've got to improve the rotation and our bullpen."

Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the second on Thomas' RBI triple, then put the game away with nine runs in a three-inning stretch.

In the fourth, Thomas hit a three-run homer, and Inge followed with his 20th home run of the season to put the Tigers ahead 5-0. The same pair struck again in the fifth, with Thomas hitting an RBI single and Inge following with a two-run homer.

Detroit added two more in the sixth when Marcus Thames singled with the bases loaded and Asdrubal Cabrera misplayed the ball to let the 10th run score.

Cleveland loaded the bases with two out in the seventh, but Verlander struck out pinch-hitter Jamey Carroll, then left to a standing ovation from the crowd of 39,680.

The Indians loaded the bases in the ninth on a double and two walks, and Zach Miner walked Carroll to force in Cleveland's only run.

Box score, Page C4