Justin Verlander had the perfect game going with one out in the eighth. In a very strange at-bat by J.P. Arencibia, in what I thought was a considered, planned attempt to break up the no-hitter with a contact hitters approach - where he fouled off everything near the plate, starting with the first pitch - Arencibia drew a walk on 8 foul balls and a ball four that looked like it might be called a strike. At that moment this observer felt that if Arencibia hadn't taken that ball he very likely would have broken up the no hitter. As it was the next batter grounded into a double play to end the inning.
After what seemed like an eternally long top of the ninth - that saw the Tigers' solicitous starter pacing in and out of the clubhouse tunnel, up and down the causeway steps, pulling at his fingers, until finally just sitting on them, as the Detroit batters plated 2 more for the appropriate forfeit score of 9-0 - Justin Verlander put down the 25th, 26th and 27th Jay's hitters in the bottom of the inning on 10 pitches.
Toronto facing Justin Verlander May 7th 2011
See the whole game scorecard at The Blogger Baseball Scorecard, "Scorecard: May 7, 2011 Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays - Game 2 of 4".
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