Verlander strikes out 10 as Tigers beat Mariners, 4-1

Alex Avila hit two triples and Justin Verlander pitched eight strong innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1.

Verlander (7-3) struck out a season-best 10 while allowing one run on five hits. He is 5-0 in his last seven starts with a 2.14 ERA, and received a standing ovation from the crowd of 22,090 while returning to the dugout after the eighth.

Detroit came back with four in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jhonny Peralta singled and scored on Avila’s second triple of the game. With two outs, Don Kelly’s single gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead, and Brennan Boesch followed with his eighth homer of the season.

Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his 16th save in as many tries.


POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander

Tigers pitcher Jose Valverde

Tigers left fielder Don Kelly

Mariners pitcher Doug Fister

Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan


...PLUS PREGAME COMMENTS FROM THE TIGERS

Manager Jim Leyland

Center fielder Austin Jackson

Catcher Victor Martinez