DETROIT -- Justin Verlander quickly found out how much a no-hitter changed his life.
When the Detroit Tigers young ace walked into a restaurant shortly after his feat, he was greeted with a standing ovation.
"Yeah, the second one of the night," Verlander said Wednesday, about 17 hours after pitching a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Verlander was not-so-special when he reported to Comerica Park for the next game.
"I had a drug test," he said. "I guess that happens when you throw 100-something in the ninth inning."
Brewers slugger Prince Fielder said Verlander does more than simply fire away.
"He never throws his fastball down the middle," Fielder said. "When you're hitting your spots at 100, to be honest, it's going to be a tough day.
|
|
| Justin Verlander strikes out a career-high 12 batters in his no-hitter. (AP) |
The NL-Central leading Brewers had 22 hits in their previous game, the most by a team before being held hitless since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Bill Hall drew three walks, the first to reach base three times for a hitless team since 1970 according to Elias, and declared himself lucky.
"He's got electric stuff. It won't be his only no-hitter," Hall said. "There's nobody in the National League like him, not with the control and power that he has."
Verlander, last season's AL Rookie of the Year, struck out a career-high 12. He reached 99 mph on the radar gun in the first eight innings, then hit 102 in the ninth.
Verlander also mixed in a wildly breaking curve and an outstanding changeup.
