Verlander dazzles in rehab start, despite 'scare' from 'dinosaur' on 'Jurassic Park' night
The combination of Justin Verlander and "Jurassic Park" drew a record-setting crowd to Fifth Third Field in Dayton this weekend.
The Detroit Tigers pitcher started in a minor-league rehab game for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday, pitching in front of a record-setting sell-out crowd of 13,300 fans, who were also treated to a "Jurassic Park" theme night.
Verlander, who made his second rehab start for the Mud Hens, sported a Jurassic-themed jersey, along with the rest of his Triple-A teammates.
He's Here the big 35 Justin Verlander pic.twitter.com/9HIn3wX8vm
— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) June 6, 2015
You're going to hear @TheCoreyJones and Miguel Gonzales ROAR in tonight's preHENstoric Specialty Jerseys! #GoHens pic.twitter.com/27T8pguahA
— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) June 6, 2015
Verlander gave up one unearned run on four hits while striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings against the Columbus Clippers.
He did not walk a batter while throwing 93 pitches, 69 for strikes.
"I feel like today was the step I wanted to see," Verlander told FOX Sports Detroit. "The biggest thing was getting my pitch count up, getting some innings, not just throwing three innings but getting out there and getting up and down a few times."
Verlander looked much-improved since his first rehab start against Indianapolis.
The only thing that might have thrown Verlander off was the dinosaur that came to the mound to deliver the game ball before first pitch.
So a T-Rex delivered tonight's game ball to @JustinVerlander. #Don'tSeeThatEveryday pic.twitter.com/5bZfLzR6Bk
— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) June 6, 2015
"That was a first," Verlander said via FOX Sports Detroit. "Nobody told me it was happening. So I got a ball, went out there and here comes this dinosaur. I'm like, all right, something new."
The Cy Young Award winner is expected to re-join the Tigers this week and will likely start the weekend series against the Indians on Friday night on five days' rest.
(h/t FOX Sports Detroit, Detroit Free Press)
