New York Yankees batter Curtis Granderson passes Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (R) after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York on Tuesday
Justin Verlander came within five outs of pitching another no-hitter on Tuesday, the Detroit ace settling for a two-hit shutout in the Tigers’ 4-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
The red-hot starter was trying to become just the sixth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season after he threw one last month. Verlander took his no-hit bid into the eighth inning where Orlando Cabrera lined a single to end the pitcher’s run at the feat, much to the disappointment of the 28,000 home crowd. “I felt like I could possibly do it again,” Verlander told reporters after he was given a rousing ovation following Cabrera’s hit.  “I felt really good, was hitting my spots and the crowd was really getting behind me. It was fun.” The right-hander also hurled a no-hitter in 2007. He was trying to join a group of only five pitchers to have three no-hitters in their career. Verlander blew away the Cleveland hitters with 12 strikeouts on Tuesday to improve his record to 8-3 on the season. He has not lost since April 27, and his latest effort vaulted the Tigers (37-30) into first place in the American League Central where they have a one-game lead on the Indians (35-30).  No Jeter, no problem as  Yankees rout RangersNEW YORK: Even without injured captain Derek Jeter the New York Yankees were too good for Texas on Tuesday, hammering previously unbeaten pitcher Alexi Ogando in a 12-4 rout of the Rangers. The Yankees, who placed Jeter on the 15-day disabled list after the shortstop strained his right calf a day earlier, burst out of the blocks with six runs in the second inning to chase Ogando from the game. Jeter made his presence felt on the bench by giving advice to his replacement, Eduardo Nunez, who finished with two hits and an RBI in the second. “He told me what kind of pitch (Ogando) had and he told me to wait for a fastball,” Nunez told reporters. “(When I got the hit) Jeter said, ‘Man, I told you.’” Curtis Granderson hit a two-run single during the second-inning onslaught, and added a two-run home run in the sixth where the Yankees scored three times. Ogando had won his first seven decisions of the season, but the right-hander never made it out of the second inning. “I just didn’t feel very well,” Ogando said. “I was not making my pitches and locating. They hit me hard. That’s pretty much it.” New York (37-28) starter CC Sabathia pitched seven innings and allowed four runs to improve to 8-4 this season.  Votto, Cueto lead Reds  over Dodgers 3-2LOS ANGELES: The Cincinnati Reds have assured themselves of a winning West Coast trip, something their starting pitchers have gone to great lengths to achieve.Johnny Cueto pitched seven sharp innings, Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth and the Reds beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 on Tuesday night.