Verlander (18-5) labored through a 29-pitch first inning but settled down after that, allowing seven hits in another impressive outing. He struck out eight to surpass 200 on the year, walked one and lowered his ERA to 2.31.
Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs for the Tigers, and Ramon Santiago hit his third home run, a solo shot in the sixth.
Nick Blackburn (7-10) allowed five runs and 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings.
In Kansas City, Missouri (AP) — Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer into the Kauffman Stadium fountains, Russell Martin and Derek Jeter each drove in a pair of runs, and New York beat Kansas City to give Ivan Nova his eighth consecutive victory.
The Yankees moved a half-game ahead of Boston atop the AL East.
Nova (12-4) struggled almost as much as Royals starter Danny Duffy (3-7), allowing five runs and seven hits through three innings. But he settled down to retire the side in order the next two frames, and survived long enough to move past Alfredo Aceves for the longest winning streak by a Yankees rookie since 1980.
In Anaheim, California, Michael Young had three of the Rangers’ 17 hits and drove in three runs, and Texas opened its biggest AL West lead of the season.
Derek Holland (11-4) yielded nine hits and fell one out shy of his fifth complete game for the Rangers, who have moved six games ahead the struggling Angels.
Josh Hamilton homered in a three-hit performance before leaving with back spasms, and Mitch Moreland had a two-run single among his three hits in Texas’ fifth straight victory.
In Boston, rookie Desmond Jennings hit his fifth home run of the season and Jeff Niemann struck out 10 as the Tampa Bay Rays salvaged a split of a doubleheader with a second game victory over Boston.
The Red Sox opened the day with a win, but couldn’t overcome two unearned runs in the second inning of the nightcap. Boston also couldn’t capitalize on its first triple play since 1994.
Niemann (8-4) pitched his first complete game of the season and won his seventh straight decision. Tampa Bay won for the sixth time in eight games.
Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer, and Jon Lester struck out eight in the win by the Red Sox in the opener. Lester (12-6) outdueled fellow All-Star James Shields , who pitched nearly as well and deeper into the game but received little offensive support.
Shields (11-10) retired the last 15 batters he faced and struck out six. The only three hits he allowed were a pair of singles by Josh Reddick and Mike Aviles , followed by Ellsbury’s homer.
In Chicago, Juan Pierre’s game-ending single in the 14th inning capped a wild, five-hour marathon for Chicago.
Gordon Beckham doubled off of Chad Durbin (2-2) with one out in the final inning, advancing to third on Brent Morel’s infield single. David Huff reliever Durbin to face Pierre, who singled to left to win it.
Jason Frasor (3-2) worked the top of the inning to earn the victory.
The White Sox have won nine of 11 and remain 3 1/2 games behind the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers. The loss drops the second-place Indians three games back.
In Oakland, California, Josh Willingham hit a home run and had two hits, and Coco Crisp drove in two runs for Oakland.
Cliff Pennington had three hits, Jemile Weeks had two and both drove in runs for the A’s, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Scott Sizemore , Kurt Suzuki and Hideki Matsui also had RBIs.
Josh Bell drove in two runs for the Orioles, who have lost 15 of their last 19 road games. Vladimir Guerrero and Robert Andino also drove in runs.
In Seattle, Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 35th home run, Colby Rasmus and Aaron Hill each drive in four runs and Toronto rallied twice.
The Blue Jays appeared on the way to an easy victory with a six-run first inning, highlighted by Rasmus’ three-run double. But by the third inning, the Mariners had tied it. The Jays broke away again with a four-run fifth. Luis Perez (2-2), who took over for Brad Mills in the fourth, earned the victory. He matched his career high with four innings, allowing three hits, one run, two walks and three strikeouts.
