Verlander fans nine in second rehab start

In his second rehab start, Justin Verlander got a genuine Minor League welcome. While wearing a themed jersey, the former American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner received the game ball from a fake dinosaur.

After the pregame excitement settled down, Verlander struck out nine and allowed an unearned run on four hits over 5 2/3 innings on Saturday night before Triple-A Toledo fell to Columbus, 6-1, at Fifth Third Field.

"I feel like today was the step I wanted to see. The biggest thing was getting my pitch count up, getting some innings," he said in a postgame news conference. "Not just throwing three innings but getting out there and getting up and down a few times."

After allowing a leadoff single to Indians top prospect Francisco Lindor, Verlander retired the next 10 batters before Jesus Augilar -- Cleveland's 13th-ranked prospect -- slapped a two-out double in the fourth. The 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner worked around a fifth-inning single by Indians No. 4 prospect Giovanny Urshela while keeping the Clippers off the scoreboard.

"Everything was much better," said Verlander, who gave up three runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings for Toledo on Sunday. "I think the most improved was the fastball control. I was just trying to get a feel for it, locating to both sides of the plate, and I was able to do that. That's the biggest key."

Verlander ran into some trouble in the sixth, with Adam Moore reaching on third baseman Jefry Marte's error. After striking out Lindor for the second time and retiring Michael Martinez on a forceout, he got a visit from Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish.

"He said, 'Can you get him in three pitches?' And I said, 'Yeah,'" Verlander said.

The 32-year-old right-hander sent the Mud Hens skipper back to the dugout, but Aguilar doubled home Martinez on Verlander's final pitch to lift Columbus into a 1-1 tie.

On PreHenstoric Night, the six-time All-Star threw 93 pitches, 14 more than he did in his first rehab start. While Verlander had been preparing for this outing for the better part of a week, he was not prepared for what happened before the first pitch.

"That was a first," Verlander said with a laugh. "Nobody told me it was happening, so I got a ball and went out there and here comes a dinosaur. All right, well, that's something new."

After the game, Verlander signed his jersey and it was auctioned off for $2,300. The proceeds went to Hens Charities and Kids Unlimited Toledo, which provides afterschool and summer programs for underprivileged youth.

A strained right triceps has kept Verlander from pitching in the big leagues this season, but he's expected to rejoin the Tigers next week.

"You just gotta go through the process, you can't try to rush things. That's how you reinjure yourself," he said. "I would like to be there [in Detroit] and help, but like [manager] Brad [Ausmus] told me, the best way to help is to be healthy."

Columbus starter Cody Anderson (1-0) thrived opposite Verlander in his Triple-A debut. The Indians' No. 17 prospect allowed on a run on four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over seven innings.

"Anytime you move up, it gets a little more intense. Adrenaline was pumping, I was just excited to be here," he said. "I'm sure [outlasting Verlander] will be up there in my stories."