Brandon Inge homers to back Justin Verlander, help Tigers sweep Brewers with 3-2 win

Inge HR helps Verlander lead Tigers past Brewers

DETROIT — Brandon Inge hit a three-run homer and Justin Verlander pitched into the eighth inning to help the Detroit Tigers sweep the Milwaukee Brewers with a 3-2 win Sunday.

Verlander (8-3), who no-hit the Brewers in his only other start against them, allowed two runs on five hits in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out eight while improving to 8-1 since April 27. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 14th straight save.

Yovani Gallardo (7-4) shut out the Tigers for the first five innings, but allowed Inge’s homer to left in the sixth after singles by Miguel Cabrera and Don Kelly.

Casey McGehee homered to left with one out in the first to get Milwaukee’s first hit off Verlander.

The Detroit star got a break in the top of the fourth when J.J. Hardy hit what looked like a perfect hit-and-run single with two out, but the ball bounced off Mat Gamel’s leg for an out.

Before Inge homered, Marcus Thames hit a drive to the deepest part of the park, where Mike Cameron made the catch.

Craig Counsell led off the eighth with a homer, Verlander retired the next two batters before leaving to a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd of 41,163.

Bobby Seay struck out Prince Fielder to end the inning before giving way to Rodney.

NOTES: Plate umpire Ron Kulpa also called balls and strikes during Verlander’s no-hitter against Milwaukee on June 12, 2007 and Dale Scott was the first-base umpire in both games. … Detroit 2B Placido Polanco, who left Saturday’s game after being hit in the leg with a pitch, had a previously scheduled day off on Sunday. … The game was Detroit’s first sellout since the home opener.