Tigers 5, Indians 11 (5/31/07)
Justin Verlander made his Major League debut in Cleveland on July 4, 2005, and battled his first-start nerves. Left with little touch on all but his fastball, he had to challenge Indians hitters with his heater and paid for it.
On Thursday, Cleveland pounded Verlander’s fastball again. What was expected to be a pitching duel between Verlander and C.C. Sabathia became a slugfest when Travis Hafner’s two-run single and Victor Martinez’s two-run homer sent Verlander to his first defeat since April 28 in an 11-5 Tigers loss at Jacobs Field.