Justin Verlander’s gem spoiled in another Tigers loss

1:53 AM ET

ANAHEIM — The way that Justin Verlander pitched on Monday night usually leads to the sort of triumphant exit from the mound that has fans — at least a home crowd — on its feet. It would have been hard to imagine, especially after the Detroit Tigers ace retired the first 12 batters he faced, that Verlander would be forced to watch the remainder of the eighth inning from the dugout, looking equal parts frustrated, baffled, and defeated.

But that’s exactly what he did as the eighth inning crumbled and the runs piled up, leaving the 33-year-old with the sort of pitching line that was far from representative of his performance: 7 1/3 innings pitched, four hits, four runs — all earned, remarkably — and seven strikeouts over 116 pitches.

The Angels’ Jhoulys Chacin was a worthy adversary on the mound for Verlander in the Tigers’ 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. The 28-year-old righthander, not exactly a world-beater this season with a 1-3 record and a 5.11 ERA heading into the game, looked like one against Detroit, retiring the first 17 batters he faced, giving up only four hits and recording his first complete game in almost five years.

But what began as a pitching duel deteriorated into an eyesore in the eighth inning, as the Tigers allowed the Angels to tally five runs while their own erratic offense came up conspicuously short again.

Justin Verlander couldn’t help but look for answers after his quality performance was spoiled by …

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