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Justin Verlander made his return to the mound in Des Moines on a rehabilitation start for the Toledo Mud Hens, and about seventy fans were already lined up along the right field line before the first pitch was even thrown. The future Hall of Famer drew a crowd at Principal Park, and all eyes were on whether that arm still has what it takes to get back to Detroit.
Speaking of the Tigers, they are rolling right now. An eight to nothing shellacking of Tampa Bay on Tuesday, with Gleyber Torres and the offense finally waking up after a brutal May. Back-to-back games with ten-plus runs and eight-plus runs has Detroit feeling dangerous again, and the question now is whether this is a real turn or just a hot couple of days.
And in track and field, Iowa junior Luke Knepp is headed to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, after a commanding performance in the steeplechase quarterfinals down in Fayetteville. The former Pleasant Valley standout reset his own school record with a fifth-place time in his heat, punching his ticket automatically. First NCAA Championships appearance for Knepp, and he earned every step of it.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
