Verlander Stops Skid

The message delivered to Justin Verlander by Quentin Berry's first inning two-run homer was clear: there's your runs, big guy; now make them stand up. 

And he did, allowing only two infield hits until the seventh. Then, along came Jones. (When the opponent's leadoff man is named Presley, bloggers are permitted to use MLB.com-style music puns.) Garrett Jones' two run homer, the Pirates' first hard-hit ball of the day, evened the score. 

In the eighth, something happened that hasn't happened in a long time. Delmon Young made a positive contribution to the Tiger offensive effort. He singled in QB with the go-ahead run.

JV struck out the last two Pirates to wrap up his eighth win, a complete game five-hitter. 

Rugburn, playing left field, took a homer away from Josh Harrison that would have tied the score in the eighth, and made The Resident Managerial Genuis look like one for inserting him as a defensive replacement.