Justin Verlander superb but gets zero help as Tigers fall to Orioles

10:56 PM ET

BALTIMORE — The Detroit Tigers envisioned pitcher Justin Verlander playing the role of stopper. Coming off his strongest start of the season, the 33-year-old starter was in perfect position to help his team claw out of an utterly baffling nosedive.

Justin Verlander was the tough-luck loser Friday, striking out eight and allowing just one run in a complete game in Baltimore. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Each defeat has been different and yet strangely similar — the sorts of indignities suffered vary from night to night, but the manner in which Detroit has gone down has been consistent. One facet of the game has been strong while the others have been either ineffective or downright disastrous. No area of the team’s play has proved impervious to failure. During this latest freefall, the Tigers have seen starting pitchers stumble, its offense denied and its bullpen implode.

The Tigers needed Verlander to stop the damage Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, and his superb eight-inning performance should have sufficed. Except it didn’t. Instead, the offense was stifled, completely, and the Tigers were shut out 1-0 at Camden Yards — their 10th loss in the past 11 games.

“I’s testing us,” admitted Verlander, who recorded his first complete game of the season, holding the Orioles to just one run on four hits and amassing eight strikeouts. …

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