Justin Verlander Allows Record Four HRs In Fifth As Tigers Fall 9-3 To Indians At Home

All Justin Verlander could do was throw his hands up and hang his head, as the Detroit Tigers suffered a crushing 9-3 home loss to the Cleveland Indians on Sunday afternoon.

Justin Verlander Allows Record Four HRs In Fifth As Tigers Fall 9-3 To Indians

The Indians have now won nine straight and improved to 9-0 against Detroit this season, while the Tigers have dropped three consecutive games: all three of the games in their home series against Cleveland. The Tigers were also outscored 22-7 and have fallen back to the .500 mark and stand seven games back in the American League Central.

“I’m glad it’s still June,” said manager Brad Ausmus. 

However, Detroit’s troubles at Comerica Park didn’t stop there.

In the fifth inning of Sunday’s series finale, Verlander allowed four home runs. The starting right-hander is now the first Tiger in history to do so, according to STATS, Inc.

“Today was obviously horrible,” the 33-year-old veteran said. “I got started out alright but just that one inning, I kind of fell apart.”

Juan Uribe and Tyler Naquin opened the inning with back-to-back homers. With two outs, Mike Napoli hit a two-run shot to left-centerfield. Then, Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run shot to right field.

“It sucks because I worked my tail off the last month or month and a half and to have one start blow up in your face sucks,” Verlander said. “I wish I could have done a better job for our team today. It would have been a big win for us but it didn’t happen the way anybody drew up, so press forward.”

Verlander tied a career high, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He also struck out five and walked two.

Ausmus seemed to struggle to explain his team’s up-and-down season filled with alternating winning and losing streaks.

“It seems like big swings in how we’re playing,” Ausmus said. “It’s kind of been that way all year.”

The Tigers offense also appeared to have difficulty figuring out Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin, off whom they only managed three runs, all solo home runs.

Mike Aviles opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning. This marked the first time all season that the Tigers held a lead over the Indians, spanning 75 innings.

After Cleveland regained the lead with two runs on two hits and two walks in the top of the third, Victor Martinez tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom half.

Martinez added another, his 14th of the season, in the sixth inning. It was his ninth career multi-home run game, although it was not ultimately enough to save Detroit.

“It’s frustrating to lose a series like this at home, especially when we came in playing very well,” Verlander said. “So you can’t dwell on what’s already happened.”

Clearly, the Tigers have not been playing as well as they typically can.

“We’re a much better team than this,” catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said.

The Tigers (38-38, 3rd in AL Central) have Monday off before hosting the Miami Marlins for a two-game series beginning Tuesday night. Right-hander Mike Pelfrey will start after coming off a strong relief appearance last Friday, in which he allowed three hits over 4 1/3 shutout innings.

Meanwhile, the Indians (44-30, 1st in AL Central) will begin a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta on Monday. Right-hander Trevor Bauer, who shut out the Rays in his last outing, will take the mound.

PHOTO: DETROIT, MI – JUNE 26: Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the second inning of the game against the Cleveland Indians on June 26, 2016 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)