It was a scoreless tie right up to the ninth inning. Fans had to wonder not only whether Verlander might get the no-hitter but whether the game might go into extra innings or Verlander might actually lose it in a heartbreaker.
Rookie Abraham Toro, who grew up in Canada, belted the two-run homer in the top of the ninth to give Verlander his two-run cushion. He struck out 14 and walked just one. He needed 120 pitches.
I watched the whole game. What a performance! Only one walk...in the first inning yet.
And as irony would have it, Toro who hit the winning homer also fielded the last grounder and threw a perfect strike to first base. One camera shot caught Verlander turn swiftly to watch the grounder to Toro at third, then turn 180 to see the out at first. Concern, then instant joy. Quite a moment.