Verlander struggles in last spring start
March 31, 2010
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP)—Justin Verlander(notes) was roughed up for five runs, threeearned, over 5 1-3 innings in his final start of spring training, though theDetroit Tigers downed the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 Wednesday.
Verlander, who will face Kansas City?s Zach Greinke on Monday, allowed 10hits and walked two as his spring ERA ballooned to 5.48.
Verlander said he felt ready to go and was using the game to makeadjustments he would not normally make in the regular season.
Scott Sizemore(notes) hit his third homer of the spring and went 2 for 3 for theTigers. Johnny Damon(notes) had three hits.
Pirates starter Zach Duke(notes) allowed eight runs—all earned—in 3 2-3innings.
Aki Iwamura, Lastings Milledge(notes), and Andy LaRoche(notes) each had two hits for thePirates.
