MLB: Detroit 1, Cleveland 0

Justin Verlander allowed two hits while going the distance Friday, giving the Detroit Tigers a 1-0 victory over Cleveland.

Verlander lost 17 games last season, but improved to 3-2 this year with his third straight triumph. He walked two and struck out 11 in the fourth complete game and third shutout of his five-year career.

Verlander and Cliff Lee battled in a scoreless duel until the eighth inning, when Curtis Granderson drew a one-out walk, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored the game’s only run on an infield single by Clete Thomas.

Granderson then preserved the lead by making a spectacular catch on a fly to center by Grady Sizemore with a runner on first in the ninth. That was the second out of the inning and Verlander then struck out Asdrubal Cabrera on three pitches to end the game.

Lee (1-5) allowed seven hits over eight innings to take the hard-luck loss.