The Norman Transcript

National Sports

Discussion

October 7, 2012

Verlander overpowers A’s

By Noah Trister Associated Press

DETROIT — Justin Verlander threw a fastball that caught a bit too much of the plate, allowing Oakland’s Coco Crisp to lead off the game with a stunning home run.

For the first few innings, Verlander labored, his pitch count rising while his control deserted him. But the Athletics could manage only that one run, missing their best chance of the night to break through against Detroit’s hard-throwing ace.

Verlander held Oakland scoreless after his early slip, and Alex Avila homered in the fifth inning to lift the Tigers over the Athletics 3-1 Saturday night in the opener of their best-of-five AL playoff. Verlander allowed three hits in seven innings and matched his postseason high with 11 strikeouts.

“Early on was kind of a bit of a battle for me,” Verlander said. “Just kind of found my rhythm a little bit and was able to hit my spots better, and I started throwing my breaking ball for strikes a little bit better too.”

As usual, he seemed stronger in the later innings, striking out the side in the sixth and the first two hitters of the seventh.

“Early on, didn’t have great control of any of my pitches,” Verlander said. “But I was able to get myself out of jams that I created.”

Joaquin Benoit pitched the eighth and Jose Valverde struck out two in a perfect ninth for the save. Oakland’s Jarrod Parker allowed two earned runs in 6 1-3 innings and took the loss.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
National Sports
  • Oxbow upsets Orb

    BALTIMORE — Oxbow put D. Wayne Lukas in the record books again with an upset of Orb in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, giving the Hall of Fame trainer his 14th win in a Triple Crown race....

    May 19, 2013

  • Pacers advance over Knicks

    INDIANAPOLIS — Lance Stephenson scored a playoff career-high 25 points and led a late 11-2 run Saturday night, leading the Indiana Pacers past the New York Knicks, 106-99 and into the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Brewers top Cards in 10

    ST. LOUIS — Jeff Bianchi drove in two runs with a 10th-inning single up the middle, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Saturday night. Joe Kelly (0-2) allowed runs for the first time in five appearances and took ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Trying day at track for Ganassi

    INDIANAPOLIS — Once again, Chip Ganassi Racing will start the Indianapolis 500 packed close together. Unfortunately, for the foursome, that proximity is in the middle of the pack....

    May 19, 2013

  • Bradley still leads at Nelson

    IRVING, Texas — Keegan Bradley still hasn’t gotten things right on the 18th hole at the Byron Nelson Championship, even when finally going left. The bogeys on the closing hole at TPC Four Seasons haven’t cost him the lead yet. Bradley ...

    May 19, 2013

  • Orb favored to take Preakness, set up Triple Crown try

    BALTIMORE — Everything’s a go for Orb. The Kentucky Derby winner was in a playful mood the day before the Preakness, making faces for photographers between nibbles of grass outside his stall at Pimlico Race Course....

    May 18, 2013

  • Trio has Grizz in Western finals

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Miami Heat have LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Spurs have dominated for years with the trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Now the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded their leading scorer in ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Cards hold off Brewers

    ST. LOUIS — David Freese waited a long time for this curtain call. He was impressed with the patience of St. Louis’ fans....

    May 18, 2013

  • Paul Hornung looks to score Preakness win

    BALTIMORE — Former Green Bay Packers great Paul Hornung is looking to pull an upset in the Preakness with his 3-year-old colt Titletown Five — named for the number of NFL titles won by the Packers when Hornung played for them....

    May 18, 2013

  • Bradley gets course-record 60 at Nelson

    IRVING, Texas — Keegan Bradley had no thoughts of a course record, or the possibility of a 59, after consecutive bogeys in the middle of his opening round at the Byron Nelson Championship. Until his 136-yard wedge shot on his final hole ...

    May 17, 2013