Justin Verlander Masters Toronto Blue Jays, Throws 2nd No-No in MLB in 5 Days

Justin Verlander had done this before. He had already thrown a no-hitter. So when he was back in that situation, he decided to have a little fun on the mound.

He had a lot more fun when the game was over.

Verlander faced 27 batters in his second career no-hitter, which was the second in Major League Baseball in just five days. Verlander was perfect until J.P. Arencibia walked on a 12-pitch at-bat. He got out of that jam by forcing a double play. The Tigers beat the Blue Jays 9-0.

Even though the Tigers ace only struck out four batters, he finished the game with a K and he got some nice plays from the defense. Scott Sizemore and Jhonny Peralta made some nice fielding plays, as well as Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn.

Verlander and Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero both retired the first six batters they faced, but Romero broke down in the third and fourth innings while Verlander stayed perfect. J-Ver's fastball was working to perfection, and his off-speed pitches were working well.

In the first few innings, Verlander used his slider, fastball and changeup to master Toronto. He forced a lot of groundouts with the slider and fastball, and flyouts with his changeup or high fastball.

In the bottom of the first inning Juan Rivera ripped one of Verlander's fastballs into left-center field. Ryan Raburn made the running catch, however, ending the inning. Brandon Inge made a couple nice plays at second as well.

In the third, Verlander struck out a batter with a fastball that hit the inside corner. His fastball had great movement, allowing him to force many groundouts. In the fifth, he made a great play off of a moving fastball. Edwin Encarnacion hit a line drive right back at Verlander. Justin failed to catch it, as the ball deflected off of his arm and off the mound. J-Ver raced to it, and fired a one-hop throw to Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera scooped it in time and the no-hitter was alive.

In the sixth, Rajai Davis hit a moving fastball from Verlander down the first-base line, however, Miguel Cabrera made a great play and jumped up to catch it. J-Ver was nine outs away from a perfecto!

In the seventh, Verlander threw a changeup that was hit hard by Yunel Escobar. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta made a nice play, fielding the one-hopper and throwing out Escobar. The last out in the inning was a Juan Rivera grounder to the pitcher, but the amazing thing about it was that it was a 101-mph pitch.

Verlander started the eighth inning with an outside fastball. Mike McCoy hit it deep, but it went straight to Austin Jackson. When J-Ver got two strikes on J.P. Arencibia, it looked like he would have an easy perfecto.

Verlander threw lots of strikes, but Arencibia fouled them all off. On a 3-2 pitch, Verlander threw it 100 mph, but it just missed the outside corner. Still, Verlander used his breaking ball on Edwin Encarnacion to force a 6-4-3 DP and get out of the inning.

After a popup and a groundout, Verlander was one out away with Rajai Davis up. Davis, a .177 hitter, worked the count to 2-2, but on the 2-2 pitch, he couldn't finish. Verlander got him swinging on a hanging slider for his second career no-hitter.

Verlander is now 3-3 on the year.