Tigers' Verlander No-Hits the Brewers

Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, June 12, 2007 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) (Duane Burleson - AP)

Verlander didn't even see the ball settle into Ordonez's glove.

"I wanted to watch the catch, but Pudge was yelling in my ear," he said.

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez was already at the mound and hugged Verlander as the pitcher wheeled around.

"I think I was more excited than he was," Rodriguez said.

This was the first no-hitter in Detroit since Nolan Ryan of the Angels did it at Tiger Stadium in 1973. Comerica opened in 2000.

Milwaukee was last no-hit on April 27, 1994, by Scott Erickson at Minnesota. This was the third no-hitter since interleague play began _ David Cone did it for the Yankees against Montreal and a set of Houston pitchers blanked the Yankees.

Verlander was greeted by manager Jim Leyland as he walked off the field.

"A lot of things go through your mind when something like this happens," Leyland said, fighting back tears. "I'm very happy for him, happy for the team, happy for the fans to see something special."

Verlander's girlfriend, Emily Yuen, also was on the field to celebrate. He also got a shaving-cream pie to the face after his first no-hitter since he was 12 years old.

It was the second no-hitter of the season in the majors, with Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox doing it against the Texas Rangers on April 18. Boston's Curt Schilling came within one out of accomplishing it at Oakland last week.

Perez preserved this one with his glove.

After Bill Hall walked for the third time, Gabe Gross hit a hard grounder up the middle. Perez skidded to his left to glove it, but the force of the ball knocked him over.