DETROIT (AP) - Justin Verlander lost a bid for his third no-hitter when Chris Iannetta lined a leadoff double in the ninth inning that landed on the left-field line, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-0 Wednesday night.
Trying to become the sixth major leaguer to throw three no-hitters, Verlander settled instead for a one-hit shutout.
He was an inch away from so much more.
Iannetta's shot, just barely fair, kicked up chalk and rolled into the left-field corner. Verlander attempted to will it foul with body English, then arched his back in disappointment after the ball hit right on the line.
Verlander (2-6) retired the next three batters to finish his seventh career shutout and first since May 18, 2012, against Pittsburgh. The right-hander struck out nine and walked two in his first win since July 29.
He faced only 28 hitters - one more than the minimum - after inducing double plays following both walks.
"Right now it's tough," Verlander said moments after the final out. "I've got to say thank you to the fans. Starting in the seventh inning you guys got on your feet the entire game, and it's been a while since I felt like that on the mound and that's pretty exciting. I'll always remember you guys for that."
Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos homered to help the Tigers stop a five-game slide.
Verlander's most recent no-hitter came at Toronto on May 7, 2011. He also pitched one against Milwaukee on June 12, 2007.
This effort marked the seventh time in the last five seasons Verlander carried a no-hit bid into at least the seventh inning. He took one into the ninth in May 2012 against the Pirates before Josh Harrison broke it up with one out.
Verlander's latest gem came five days after Houston right-hander Mike Fiers tossed the fifth no-hitter in the majors this season.
Four times now in 2015 a no-hit bid has been broken up in the ninth inning.
Verlander struck out five consecutive batters before walking David Murphy to start the eighth, including Mike Trout looking at a breaking ball for the second out in the seventh. Albert Pujols then went down swinging at an inside fastball.
"You always start to think about it probably in the third or fourth inning. But I really keyed the seventh inning with Trout and Pujols coming up, saying, if I can get through this I've got a good shot," Verlander said. "And I've got to tip my cap to Iannetta. He hit a pretty good pitch. My fastball's been working for me all night. I went with it."
Following a triceps injury in the spring, Verlander didn't make his first start this season until June 13. He won only once in his first 12 outings.
In July, he allowed seven runs over 3 2-3 innings against Baltimore and was booed as he left the mound - the first time that had happened in his Tigers career.
Since then, though, there have been signs that Verlander was turning things around. In the six starts after the Baltimore game, he posted a 1.67 ERA and struck out 40 while walking only six.
"It's been nice to be healthy, feel good out on the mound and be able to throw the way I'd like," Verlander said.
The crowd of 31,938 really got behind Verlander when he struck out the last two batters in the sixth, and were roaring as he whiffed Kole Calhoun, Trout and Pujols in the seventh.
Verlander walked Murphy on four pitches in the eighth, bringing up Erick Aybar and some history. In 2011, Aybar bunted against Verlander leading off the eighth inning of a no-hit attempt. Verlander threw the ball away for an error, and Maicer Izturis broke up the no-hit bid with two outs in the inning.
This time, Verlander fell behind 2-0 on Aybar before he OVERSET FOLLOWS:grounded into a double play.
Verlander took the mound in the ninth with Eminem's ""Till I Collapse" ringing from the stadium speakers. That's the song he usually takes the field to at the beginning of the game, and the crowd was ready for what would have been a rare moment of celebration in an ugly season for the Tigers.
But Iannetta's hit meant Verlander had to settle for his second career one-hitter, and his first complete game since he shut out Oakland on the road in the decisive fifth game of the 2012 AL Division Series.
For once, Verlander didn't have to worry about run support.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second on Castellanos' 15th homer and then broke the game open in the fifth. With one out, Cabrera hit a two-run homer into the Angels' bullpen. After Victor Martinez singled, J.D. Martinez followed with another two-run shot to left.
J.D. Martinez's homer was his 34th of the season - the most by any Tigers player besides Cabrera since the team moved to Comerica Park in 2000.
Hector Santiago (7-8) allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings for the Angels.
ELITE GROUP
The only major league pitchers to throw three or more no-hitters are Larry Corcoran (3 in the 1880s), Cy Young (3), Bob Feller (3), Sandy Koufax (4) and Nolan Ryan (7).
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Grant Green (right knee) could have played in an emergency but was not used.
Tigers: LHP Kyle Lobstein (left shoulder) made his fifth rehab start Tuesday night, going five innings and allowing one run for Triple-A Toledo.
UP NEXT
Detroit LHP Randy Wolf (0-1) will start Thursday, and the Angels are expected to call up RHP Matt Shoemaker from the minors. Los Angeles optioned RHP Drew Rucinski to Triple-A Salt Lake after Wednesday's game.