Verlander was left with a no-decision Wednesday despite allowing the Mariners to score just once -- a solo homer -- in seven innings. He struck out six while giving up seven hits and two walks.
In fact, the Tigers ended up in the loss column despite the flamethrower's eighth consecutive start of two or fewer runs. This run has turned the storyline of his season -- Verlander never had an ERA under 4.00 through the end of May, and as recently as June 26 was at 4.30. But now he's worn his mark down to 3.42, a number well in line with this season's peripherals, thanks in no small part to a blast-from-the-past 9.54 K/9.