CLEVELAND -- Justin Verlander pitched seven shutout innings and made sure Detroit stayed in step with first-place Chicago in the AL Central, leading the Tigers to a 4-0 win over the downward spiraling Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Coming through the way he almost always does, Verlander (14-8) allowed six hits. He escaped jams in the fifth and sixth innings with help from Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, big men best known for their powerful bats, who made stellar defensive plays.
The Tigers came in trailing the first-place White Sox by one game.
Detroit took a 4-0 lead after two innings against Corey Kluber (1-4)
The Indians, who were within 3 1-2 games of first when they rallied to beat Verlander on July 26, are 16-44 since the All-Star break.
