Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers throws a sixth inning pitch while playing the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park on June 14, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 4-0.Gregory Shamus
Justin Verlander nearly pitched another no-hitter, taking his latest bid into the eighth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers past the Cleveland Indians 4-0 Tuesday night and into first place in the AL Central.
With two no-hitters already on his resume, including one in Toronto last month, Verlander (8-3) struck out a season-high 12 and dominated the slumping Indians until Orlando Cabrera lined a clean single to centre with one out in the eighth for his 2,001st career hit.
The hard-throwing right-hander finished with a two-hitter, giving Detroit sole possession of the division lead for the first time this year. He walked one, hit a batter with a pitch and has won six straight decisions.
Andy Dirks drove in two runs for the Tigers, who have won 12 of 16.
Still missing injured slugger Travis Hafner, the Indians lost for the 15th time in 20 games and fell out of first place for the first time since April 6.
Justin Masterson (5-5) gave up four runs - two earned - on seven hits and five walks over 6 1-3 innings. He is 0-5 since his last victory April 26.
Yankees lefty Jim Abbott was the last pitcher to hold Cleveland hitless on Sept. 4, 1993, in New York.
Rays 4, Red Sox 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - James Shields pitched his AL-leading third shutout for Tampa Bay to end first-place Boston's nine-game winning streak.
In addition to cutting into their deficit in the AL East standings, the third-place Rays ruined a Tropicana Field homecoming for Carl Crawford, who signed a $142 million, seven-year contract with Boston after helping Tampa Bay win the division two of the past three seasons.
Crawford went 0 for 3 with one strikeout against Shields (6-4), who allowed five hits, walked three and struck out five en route to his AL-best fourth complete game.
Justin Ruggiano homered off knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (3-2) in the fifth and Tampa Bay added an unearned run without getting a hit in the sixth, when Evan Longoria scored on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia's second passed ball of the inning.
Yankees 12, Rangers 4.
NEW YORK - Curtis Granderson homered and drove in four runs, Eduardo Nunez - filling in for an injured Derek Jeter - sparked a six-run second inning with an RBI single and the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 12-4 on Tuesday night.
Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher also connected in the Yankees' first game since Jeter was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time since 2003 because of a strained right calf.
Brett Gardner scored three of the four times he reached base, had an RBI single among three hits and stole his 100th base batting in Jeter's leadoff spot. Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run double for an efficient offense that scored 12 runs on 14 hits, two walks and a hit batter.
CC Sabathia (8-4) pitched seven innings for the win.
Angels 4, Mariners 0.
SEATTLE - Jered Weaver threw a five-hitter for his second shutout of the season and finally got some run support on the road thanks to a four-run first inning as the Angels won consecutive games for the first time since late May with a 4-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
The Angels took advantage of one awful inning from Seattle starter Doug Fister (3-8) and Weaver made that one outburst stand up to give him his eighth win of the season and the Angels franchise their 4,000th win.
Weaver (8-4) gave up four singles and Ichiro Suzuki's ninth-inning double in his third complete game of the season. He struck out six and walked only one.
Torii Hunter, Howie Kendrick, Russell Branyan and Peter Bourjos all had run-scoring hits in the first.
Royals 7, Athletics 4.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Alcides Escobar had three hits and two RBIs, Danny Duffy pitched six innings for his first major league win and the Kansas City Royals beat Oakland 7-4 on Tuesday night to spoil the home debut of Athletics interim manager Bob Melvin.
Mike Moustakas singled twice and scored both times, and Billy Butler added a two-run double while helping the Royals to their fourth victory in five games. Kansas City improved to 3-1 on its current road trip following a 4-7 homestand.
Duffy (1-2), who began the season in the minors, gave up two runs and scattered four hits. The rookie left-hander pitched out of jams with two runners on and less than two outs in three innings and overcame four walks to win for the first time in six starts.