Justin Verlander allows a pair of homers to the Indians’ Shelley Duncan, but his teammates pick him up as they rally for an 8 – 6 win, his 22nd of the season. A grand slam by Victor Martinez highlights a five-run 7th inning push by the Tigers. Jose Valverde records his 42nd save of the year.

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Justin Verlander allows a pair of homers to the Indians’ Shelley Duncan, but his teammates pick him up as they rally for an 8 – 6 win, his 22nd of the season. A grand slam by Victor Martinez highlights a five-run 7th inning push by the Tigers. Jose Valverde records his 42nd save of the year.

Justin Verlander wins 20th in August for the first time since 1990

Justin Verlander wins 20th in August for the first time since 1990

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Justin Verlander does not pitch one of his better starts, giving up four runs, including a pair of solo homers to Luke Hughes and Jason Repko, and leaves after giving up his second hit of the day to Drew Butera, who is hitting well below the Mendoza Line, with no out in the 6th, but his teammates pick him up and he gets credit for the Tigers’ 6 – 4 win over the Twins. This makes him the major leagues’ first 20-game winner this year, the first in the majors to reach the mark in August since Curt Schilling did it with Arizona in 2002, and the first 20-game winner for the Tigers since Bill Gullickson in 1990. Jose Valverde picks up the save with a perfect 9th inning. He has now converted 40 straight save opportunities over two seasons, tying Dennis Eckersley for the second-longest streak in American League history, but still 14 behind Tom Gordon’s record of 54.

The Tigers score 7 runs off Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the 3rd, including homers from Delmon Young and Victor Martinez, but the Indians slowly claw back. In the 4th, both benches are warned when Tigers starter Rick Porcello throws a pitch behind Asdrubal Cabrera shortly before being chased from the game. In the 6th, Tigers manager Jim Leyland is ejected by third base umpire Alan Porter for arguing a tag play at the base on Wilson Betemit. Detroit closer José Valverde then pitches the 9th with a one-run lead, but puts the first two men he faces on base courtesy of a walk and a hit-by-pitch. After Jack Hannahan’s successful sacrifice bunt, he gets pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta to fly to short center field; CF Austin Jackson unloads a superb throw to the plate that nails Kosuke Fukudome trying to score from third base, for a spectacular game-ending double play. Detroit completes a three-game sweep with the 8 – 7 win and Valverde has now been perfect in all 37 of his save opportunities this year.

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The Tigers score 7 runs off Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the 3rd, including homers from Delmon Young and Victor Martinez, but the Indians slowly claw back. In the 4th, both benches are warned when Tigers starter Rick Porcello throws a pitch behind Asdrubal Cabrera shortly before being chased from the game. In the 6th, Tigers manager Jim Leyland is ejected by third base umpire Alan Porter for arguing a tag play at the base on Wilson Betemit. Detroit closer José Valverde then pitches the 9th with a one-run lead, but puts the first two men he faces on base courtesy of a walk and a hit-by-pitch. After Jack Hannahan’s successful sacrifice bunt, he gets pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta to fly to short center field; CF Austin Jackson unloads a superb throw to the plate that nails Kosuke Fukudome trying to score from third base, for a spectacular game-ending double play. Detroit completes a three-game sweep with the 8 – 7 win and Valverde has now been perfect in all 37 of his save opportunities this year.

It’s V-Day for Detroit when the Tigers’ 4-3 victory in Cleveland snaps a 13-game losing streak at Progressive Field. The team avoids being swept by the Tribe thanks to starter Justin Verlander’s 100th career win and Jose Valverde’s 33rd consecutive save, breaking a team record established in 1984 by Guillermo Hernandez.

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It’s V-Day for Detroit when the Tigers’ 4-3 victory in Cleveland snaps a 13-game losing streak at Progressive Field. The team avoids being swept by the Tribe thanks to starter Justin Verlander’s 100th career win and Jose Valverde’s 33rd consecutive save, breaking a team record established in 1984 by Guillermo Hernandez.

Justin Verlander is the first 17-game winner in the majors after defeating Cleveland, 4 – 3. The Tigers avoid a three-game sweep and leave the shores of Lake Erie with a three-game lead over the Indians. It is the 100th winof Verlander’s career; he is the only active major leaguer under 30 to have reached the total. Jose Valverde converts his 33rd consecutive save opportunity for a team record.

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Justin Verlander is the first 17-game winner in the majors after defeating Cleveland, 4 – 3. The Tigers avoid a three-game sweep and leave the shores of Lake Erie with a three-game lead over the Indians. It is the 100th winof Verlander’s career; he is the only active major leaguer under 30 to have reached the total. Jose Valverde converts his 33rd consecutive save opportunity for a team record.

The Tigers agree to terms with free agent reliever Jose Valverde, who played for the Houston Astros last season. As a result of the signing, the Tigers will give up their first pick in the 2010 amateur draft, the first time the team has surrendered its top pick since signing Rob Deer as a free agent in 1991.

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The Tigers agree to terms with free agent reliever Jose Valverde, who played for the Houston Astros last season. As a result of the signing, the Tigers will give up their first pick in the 2010 amateur draft, the first time the team has surrendered its top pick since signing Rob Deer as a free agent in 1991.

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2009 – Houston stuns closer Ryan Franklin with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to clip the Cardinals, 4-3, and sweep the three-game series from the division leaders. The Astros move within a game of first. Miguel Tejada strokes the game- after Chris Coste failed twice to lay down a bunt then spanked an RBI double to center. Jose Valverde wins in relief. 

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2009 – Houston stuns closer Ryan Franklin with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to clip the Cardinals, 4-3, and sweep the three-game series from the division leaders. The Astros move within a game of first. Miguel Tejada strokes the game- after Chris Coste failed twice to lay down a bunt then spanked an RBI double to center. Jose Valverde wins in relief. 

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2009 – Minutes after Miguel Tejada strokes his 2,000th career hit to drive in a run, Lance Berkman launches his 300th career homer  to pace a 6-4 win at Arizona. After seven strong innings by Roy Oswalt, Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins work their way out of jams to preserve the win. The Astros are last in the division with a 28-32 record but are just five games out of first. 

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2009 – Minutes after Miguel Tejada strokes his 2,000th career hit to drive in a run, Lance Berkman launches his 300th career homer  to pace a 6-4 win at Arizona. After seven strong innings by Roy Oswalt, Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins work their way out of jams to preserve the win. The Astros are last in the division with a 28-32 record but are just five games out of first. 

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2008 – Jose Valverde takes a line drive off the face  yet stays in the game to notch his league-leading 15th save in a 4-3 triumph against the Phillies. Hunter Pence had drilled two solo homers and Brandon Backe allowed just one run over 7-1/3rd innings but Valverde steals the spotlight with his amazing toughness. 

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2008 – Jose Valverde takes a line drive off the face  yet stays in the game to notch his league-leading 15th save in a 4-3 triumph against the Phillies. Hunter Pence had drilled two solo homers and Brandon Backe allowed just one run over 7-1/3rd innings but Valverde steals the spotlight with his amazing toughness.