06/13/2007

By DAVID AGUILAR  / Associated Press

Virginia native Justin Verlander pitched the first no-hitter in Comerica Park history, mixing 99 mph heat with crazy curveballs to lead the Detroit Tigers over the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Verlander struck out a career-high 12, walked four and benefited from several stellar defensive plays in the Tigers' first no-hitter since Jack Morris' gem in 1984.

Verlander, a native of Goochland who pitched for Old Dominion, trotted to the mound for the ninth to a standing ovation. He struck out Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino before getting J.J. Hardy to fly out to the warning track in right field.

"That ninth inning was amazing," Verlander said. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me."

It was the second no-hitter of the season in the majors, with Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox doing it against the Texas Rangers on April 18. Boston's Curt Schilling came within one out of accomplishing it at Oakland last week.

As right fielder Magglio Ordonez caught Hardy's fly ball, Verlander threw his arms in the air. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez was already at the mound and hugged last year's AL Rookie of the Year as he wheeled around.

This was the first no-hitter in Detroit since Nolan Ryan of the Angels did it at Tiger Stadium in 1973. Comerica opened in 2000.

Milwaukee was last no-hit on April 27, 1994, by Scott Erickson at Minnesota.

Verlander (7-2) had all of his pitches working, including a tantalizing changeup, in his second career complete game and first of the season.

Among those to congratulate Verlander was teammate Kenny Rogers, who once pitched a perfect game.