My uncle offered my brother Matt and me tickets to the Tigers game. I convinced him to go since Justin Verlander was pitching. On the way down to Comerica Park Matt and I joked about how the last time he saw a Tigers game it was at Tiger stadium.
The last time he saw a Tigers game Price Fielder's dad Cecil Fielder was the first baseman. Matt's not the biggest baseball fan, but we both agreed it was worth it for him to go to see the new stadium, and hey you never know, Verlander could throw a no hitter. We had no idea that this conversation was a prelude to the night.
Verlander gave up a walk in the first inning, which lead to Matt say, "There goes the perfect game." Other than that it was an easy inning for the reigning MVP. The Tigers would score two runs in the bottom of first, off doubles from Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. Delmon Young hit a solo home run and Don Kelley had an RBI single in the fourth.
Verlander cruised through the first five innings only allowing the one walk. He had not surrendered a hit yet. He got the first two outs in the 6th with no problem. Then Josh Harrison hit a deep fly ball to the gap in left center. The fans were nervous the ball would drop breaking up the no hitter. Kelley somehow tracked it down and made the catch. I looked at my brother and said, "Phew that was close!" It was at that point everyone in the stadium started to think no hitter.
Nine outs away, Verlander strikes out Neil walker, Comerica erupts. Eight outs away now, Andrew McCutchen draws a walk, then Pedro Alvarez grounds out to first. No hitter still intact. Seven outs away, with the crowd on their feet, Garrett Jones strikes out. The Tigers scored two more in the bottom of the seventh on a Delmon Young double. It was 6-0 as the game headed to the eighth.
Six outs away, Casey McGehee strikes out looking. Five outs away, Nate McLouth strikes out swinging at 99 MPH fastball from Verlander. The crowd was getting louder and louder after every out. Four outs away, Clint Barmes strikes out swinging at an 86 MPH slider. The crowd went insane, louder than ever! My brother and I were giving high fives to random people.
In to the ninth, Verlander stepped to the mound just three outs away from his third no hitter. Michael McKenry hit a grounder too short; Jhonny Peralta gunned him out at first. I shook Matt; we were only two outs away from history.
Sadly, Josh Harrison would step to the plate and end the no hitter with a base hit up the middle off an 87 MPH slider; the 5th breaking ball JV threw in the at bat. One could question Peralta for not diving, but I think the only thing that might have made a difference was if Verlander threw a fastball instead of a slider.
The crowd gave Verlander a standing ovation for his effort, but he still had a job to do; get two more outs. Verlander would get the next two batters to record outs ending one of the single greatest pitching performances I've ever seen in my life.
Walking out of the stadium Matt turned to me, showed me his ticket, and said, “I almost had to frame this." We were bummed we didn't get to see a no hitter, but it was a thrilling game that had our hearts beating out of our chest's and one we will never forget.
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