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Verlander, Tigers hold off Cardinals 6-3

Sports

June 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander allowed one earned run in seven innings, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Verlander (7-4) retired 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced and worked out of a seventh-inning jam to help Detroit hold on. He struck out Allen Craig with the bases loaded with his final pitch. Verlander allowed five hits and walked four, striking out only three. Joaquin Benoit worked the eighth, and Phil Coke pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the year. Lance Lynn (10-3) allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked two. Austin Jackson hit a two-run double for the Tigers, part of their three-run second inning.