Justin Verlander Barely Misses Tossing 8th No-Hitter in Tigers History

The master nearly struck again.

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates through 8.1 innings Friday during the Tigers' 6-0 victory at Comerica Park.

Pirates DH Josh Harrison broke up Verlander’s no-hit bid with a single up the middle in the top of the ninth inning.

This would have been the third no-hitter of Verlander’s increasingly illustrious career.

Verlander’s first no-hitter came on June 12, 2007, against the Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park.

Verlander struck again in 2011, when he no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

With the no-hitter on Friday, Verlander would have joined Bob Feller, Cy Young and Larry Corcoran as the only pitchers to toss three no-hitters in a career.

This would have also been the eighth no-hitter in Tigers history.

George Mullin threw the first Tigers no-hitter on July 4, 1912, against the St. Louis Browns at Navin Field. Virgil Trucks threw two no hitters. The first was on May 15, 1952, against the Senators at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Trucks' second came August 25, 1952, against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Jim Bunning threw one on July 28, 1958, in a 3-0 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Jack Morris threw one in 1984 in a 4-0 Tigers victory at Comiskey Park.

With a complete-game, 12-strikeout gem, Verlander improves to 5-1 with a 2.14 ERA and .80 WHIP this season.

The last time a team had no-hit the Pirates was on August 14, 1971, when Bob Gibson no-hit them in an 11-0 Cardinals win.