DETROIT – Justin Verlander grabbed the bill of his cap and nodded toward Miguel Cabrera when he faced his former teammate.
Then, he struck him out.
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“We’ve had a lot of great memories on and off the field,” Verlander said after helping the Houston Astros rout the Detroit Tigers 17-4 on Sunday. "I love that guy. I have so much respect for him. I’m glad A.J. (Hinch) put him in the lineup and I’m glad we had that moment.”
The 40-year-old Cabrera, who plans to retire after the season, grounded out in the third inning against Verlander.
Astros manager Dusty Baker, who is in 26th season as a manager after a 19-year playing career, compared the matchup to Hank Aaron going against Bob Gibson and Barry Bonds facing Pedro Martinez.
“I remember some good ones," the 74-year-old Baker said.
Cabrera prevented the shutout, hitting a three-run homer to make it 14-3 in the eighth off Phil Maton.
The playoff-contending Astros won the three-game series with their second straight win, following a stretch in which they lost six of eight games, on a day they had plenty of offense.
Kyle Tucker hit his 26th homer in the third inning and Jeremy Pena had five hits, including a three-run triple and a double.
Verlander (10-6) gave up just two hits, walked two and hit three batters for career victory No. 254, pulling him into a tie for 43rd on the all-time list with Hall of Famers Jack Morris and Red Faber.
The 40-year-old, three-time Cy Young award winner pitched against one of his former teams in a ballpark where he's still adored for the second time this season. Verlander made his season debut in May with the New York Mets at Comerica Park against Detroit, which drafted him No. 2 overall in 2004 and traded him to to the Astros in 2017.
Houston reacquired Verlander, who helped the franchise win two World Series championships, nearly a month ago from the Mets to bolster its chances of contending for the AL West title or a wild card. He is 4-1 this season with the Astros and hasn't given up a run in two straight starts.
Verlander exited the game with a 3-0 lead and Houston had a seven-run cushion in the seventh after Mauricio Dubon and Martin Maldonado hit back-to-back homers off Tyler Holton, who allowed four runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The Astros didn't let up, scoring seven runs in the eighth inning on Pena's three-run triple off Andrew Vasquez and Yainer Diaz's two-run homer off a 63-mph fastball from backup catcher Carson Kelly.
Alex Faedo (2-5) gave up three runs, seven hits and four walks — including one with the bases loaded — in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.
MIGGY’S MILESTONES
Cabrera had career homer No. 510, breaking a tie for 26th on the all-time list with Gary Sheffield. Cabrera’s 1,871 RBIs broke an 11th place tie with Mel Ott. He has 3,151 career hits, pulling him within one hit of an 18th place tie with Paul Waner.
“Every time Miggy gets a hit or a home run, it’s a piece of history,” Verlander said.
MAKING MOVES
Maton was activated from the 15-day injured list and RHP Ronel Blanco was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land.
MAGNUM P.I. DAY
About 200 fans — wearing mustaches, sunglasses, Hawaiian shirts and Tigers caps — attended the game as part of Magnum P.I. Day. Actor Tom Selleck wore Detroit’s home baseball cap on the TV show “Magnum P.I.”
UP NEXT
Houston stays on the road with Astros RHP Cristian Javier (9-2, 4.52) and Boston LHP Chris Sale (5-3, 4.68) expected to pitch.
Detroit remains at home with Tigers RHP Reese Olson (2-5, 5.29) and New York Yankees RHP Luis Severino (3-8, 7.26) scheduled to start.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb