HOUSTON – This was Justin Verlander’s game.
His team was trying for a split against one of the best teams in baseball. They were on the road, nearing the midway point of a mighty tough road trip and early on, the Detroit Tigers’ resurgent offense spotted their ace right-hander a three-run lead.
Verlander was terrific through three innings, cruising at 32 pitches.
Then the fourth inning rolled around and he lost the game.
A walk. A home run. A single. A home run. A few batters later, another home run. The lead? Gone.
Sure, they would catch up.