Tigers’ Verlander records 9th win

DETROIT - Former Goochland High School standout Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six innings to earn his ninth victory, and Marcus Thames hit a three-run homer as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 last night.

Verlander (9-4), in his first start since being named to his second all-star team, ran his American League-best strikeout total to 141, the most by a Detroit pitcher before the All-Star Game in 37 years. He gave up five runs and seven hits.

The last Tiger to have as many strikeouts as Verlander before the break was Mickey Lolich, who had 152.

Miguel Cabrera and Placido Polanco also homered for the AL Central-leading Tigers.

Three relievers combined for two innings to set up Fernando Rodney's 18th save in 18 chances.

Former VCU standout Brandon Inge, one of five finalists for the last spot on the AL all-star team, had a single in three at-bats.

David DeJesus hit a three-run double in the second inning for Kansas City, and Billy Butler added a solo homer in the sixth.

Verlander got into some early trouble by giving up leadoff singles in the first two innings and allowing DeJesus to clear the bases for a 3-1 lead in the second.

A night after Tigers manager Jim Leyland lamented how poorly his team was hitting, they produced plenty of runs.

Cabrera hit a 424-foot shot to left in the first for his 17th homer this season and Polanco hit a two-run homer in the third.

Polanco had an RBI single to spark the scoring in the fifth. After Cabrera was intentionally walked, Thames sent the next pitch over the left-field wall for a 7-3 lead. Polanco's fourth RBI came on a single in the sixth.

Box score, Page C4