truebluefan

Early in Wednesday's game at Comerica Park, hot numbers were flashing, digits that suggested it was going to be a miserable afternoon for the Houston Astros.

They lit up an auxiliary information board attached to the second deck, behind the third-base batting circle: 97, 98, dipping once in awhile to 96, or, at other times when Justin Verlander was twirling other pitches, to 85, 83, as low as 79.

Verlander added other number arrangements to his collection by the time the Tigers had polished off Houston, 5-0, for their sixth consecutive victory that pushed baseball's hottest team to 54-25.

His record is 10-4. He also participated in his fourth shutout, which was Detroit's 11th, the most by any major league team.

Verlander allowed three hits in his eight-inning, 99-pitch masterpiece. He walked none and struck out seven in becoming the first big league pitcher with double-digit victories ahead of the All-Star break since Kaz Ishii won 11 in 2002 for the Dodgers.

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