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fter the eighth inning Monday night, Justin Verlander had thrown 104 pitches. He had a two-run lead. He told Tigers manager Jim Leyland he felt fine.
Leyland said he dispatched Verlander back to the mound for the ninth with these words: "It's your game. You're going to walk off a winner or a loser."
With two out in the ninth, Verlander walked Mitch Maier to send the potential tying run to second. Verlander's pitch count had climbed to 125, one of his highest ever. Leyland went to the mound. Verlander said his manager told him, "You're going to get me fired" -- for letting his ace throw so many pitches.
Six pitches later -- including one that hit a batter to load the bases -- Verlander unleashed his 131st pitch of the night. It was a 100 m.p.h. fastball....
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