Tigers ace Justin Verlander mixed a variety of piches at a variety of speeds Monday night as the Tigers won their fifth straight game in defeating the Yankees at Comerica Park.
Verlander struck out 14, tying his career high.
Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski notes no Tigers pitcher had struck out 14 Yankees in a game since Jim Bunning in 1958. Hitting legend Ichiro Suzuki hadn't struck out once in 49 at-bats since joining the Yankees recently, and he fanned three straight times. When Verlander walked off the mound after the last pitch, an 82-mph curveball, the crowd roared, and he admitted to a severe case of "chillbumps."
"This is what we needed to see against a top opponent, and now it's fair to say the Tigers (59-50) could get scary-looking. They've won five straight — and 15 of 16 at home — and showed off their one-two-three punch," Wojnowski writes.
