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MIN@DET: Verlander tosses fifth complete game of year

Justin Verlander's last start was one he'd probably like to forget. Miguel Gonzalez's was one he'll always remember.

When the Detroit ace and reigning Cy Young and MVP in the American League makes his first start Sunday since his uncharacteristically ineffective one-inning performance at the All-Star Game, he'll be facing a rookie whose starting debut before the break was a winning one against the team that originally signed him.

Following a see-saw battle Saturday that saw the Orioles win in 13 innings to end the Tigers' winning streak at six, the two pitchers will try to push their teams to a series-clinching victory in a rubber match.

Verlander's five-run first in Kansas City, of course, doesn't count against his otherwise sparkling followup to last year's dominance, as the fireballing right-hander heads into the second half at 9-5 with a 2.58 ERA and a four-game winning streak.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland knew Verlander would be amped up for his start for the American League, and hitting 100 on the radar gun several times showed he was, as Verlander said postgame.

"It didn't really surprise me because I felt like knowing he's only going to pitch two innings, he'd probably be on fast forward and throw it hard and evidently I was right, because I read his comments in the paper saying they didn't come out to see him throw 90," Leyland said. "So that didn't surprise me. I'm just glad he's back and healthy, I was worried about it, because I knew he was going to be amped up and try to throw 100 and he did. That's OK. He threw it and he's fine, he's back and healthy, that's all I care about."

The last time Verlander faced the Orioles was in his final start of his historic 2011 campaign. In seven innings, he wound up allowing five earned runs, including a pair of homers, to move his final ERA from 2.29 to 2.40.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, had his first start of the second half -- and second of his career -- moved up a day to Sunday. He'll be coming off a starting debut in which he allowed one earned run on three hits to the powerful Angels, taking the victory in his fourth Major League outing.

It was a special event for Gonzalez, who had 200 friends and family in attendance against C.J. Wilson, and he donned a uniquely significant glove for that one -- a glove he'll be putting on the shelf after the debut. The glove was a gift from late Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, his friend who was killed by a drunk driver in 2009.

"I'd like to have it with me, just to take care of it," he said of the glove, which Adenhart gave him in 2007 when both were in the Angels system. "Obviously if I keep using it, it might break and I won't be able to maybe frame it one day. But definitely, I'll be taking it on the road, and it will be with me every time, like it's been ever since he gave it to me."

Tigers: Opportunity for Marte
With starter Drew Smyly going on the disabled list with a ribcage strain, long reliever Luis Marte got the call from Triple-A Toledo and will have the chance to build on what was a solid nine-outing stint with the big club earlier in the season.

"We sent Marte out when we had to adjust the roster a little bit, he didn't really do anything wrong, so I said 'Bring Marte back,'" Leyland said. "I thought that was only fair. He was kind of first in the pecking order. Doing good, doing fine. I just thought that was unfair to do it that way."

Marte, who recorded one out with one pitch in the ninth Saturday, allowed one earned run in 5 1/3 innings with Toledo after being sent down just before the All-Star break.

• Jacob Turner is stepping in to take Smyly's scheduled start against the Angels on Tuesday.

• Austin Jackson's 16-game hitting streak, a career high, came to an end Saturday. He had hit .391 (27-for-69) during the streak, but went 0-for-6 with three extra-innings opportunities.

Orioles: Hello, Teagarden
Catcher Taylor Teagarden already got in his Orioles debut Saturday, and it was quite the introduction -- a two-run game-winning homer is a great way to say hello to new friends.

Acquired from the Rangers in the offseason, but on the shelf since sustaining a Spring Training back injury, Teagarden is expected to start Sunday's game after being activated from the 60-day DL just in time for his Saturday heroics.

Ronny Paulino was assigned outright to Triple-A Norfolk with Teagarden's arrival, and he has 72 hours to decide to accept the assignment. Orioles manager Buck Showalter hopes Paulino does take advantage of the greater playing time available to him in Norfolk.

"I think catching more consistently will help him, too. With Teagarden, the good news is he's healthy and active finally," Showalter said.

Teagarden, expected to provide solid defense while spotting starter Matt Wieters, batted .250 in nine Minor League rehab games at three different levels.

• Gonzalez is making the Sunday start to give Chris Tillman, who had back spasms on Thursday, an extra day of rest. Tillman made his season debut with the Orioles with eight shutout innings July 4 at Seattle.

Worth noting
• The six-game season series is now tied, 3-3. The Tigers will host the Orioles on Aug. 17-19 at Comerica Park.

• Following Sunday's game, the Tigers head home for a key seven-game homestand that features four games against the Angels and three against the White Sox. The Orioles hit the road for a pair of four-game series, first at Minnesota and then at Cleveland.

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