July 4, 2005

CLEVELAND, OHIO-- Former ODU pitching standout Justin Verlander (Goochland, VA.) lost his major league pitching debut, 6-0 to the Cleveland Indians.

The Detroit Tigers first round selection of a year ago fanned four, walked three in 5.1 innings of work in front of a July 4th crowd of 33,599 at Jacobs Field.

Cleveland's Jason Davis tossed the six-hit shutout for the Indians. Verlander gave up three runs in the first, but then settled down to retire 12 of the next 13 batters he faced before giving up a run in the sixth.

Verlander is scheduled to pitch in the Baseball Futures game on Sunday, July 10 in Comerica Park (Detroit).

VERLANDER DEBUT PITCHING LINE
IP    H   R   ER   BB    SO
5.1   7   4    4   3      4