Where have we seen this before?
Justin Verlander gets in trouble, and then wiggles out of it like Houdini. Something about the Tigers ace. He just seems to thrive when the going gets tough.
Leading off the second inning, Red Sox DH roped an opposite-field double over Delmon Young in left field. But then Verlander did what he so often seems to do: He got tough.
The next hitter, Kevin Youkilis, hit a slow roller to shortstop that the steady Jhonny Peralta backhanded. On his throw to first, Prince Fielder made the first nice defensive play of 2012, scooping up the ball for out No. 1.
Then Ryan Sweeney grounded to second, moving Ortiz to third.
But that’s where he stayed.
On a 3-2 pitch to ex-Tiger Cody Ross, Verlander unleashed a knee-buckling curveball that froze Ross. It’s Verlander’s first strikeout of 2012.
Tigers due up: Prince Fielder, Delmon Young, Ryan Raburn.
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