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DETROIT -- As one of the games top pitchers, Justin Verlander can accept a little more scrutiny. He welcomes it, in fact. So there was no grousing from the Detroit ace when he took some heat after three straight ragged starts. Instead, Verlander went back to work, and on Monday he returned to form a bit, striking out 13 in seven innings to lead the Tigers to a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Detroits Jhonny Peralta had four hits, and the Tigers held on for their sixth win in seven games. "I expect the bar to be high," Verlander said. "Thats where I set it for myself." Verlander (6-4) hadnt pitched more than five innings in any of his previous three starts, struggling at times with his location. But he was sharp for the most part against Pittsburgh, allowing three runs and seven hits with two walks. Joaquin Benoit allowed two runs -- one earned -- in the eighth. Jose Valverde finished for his sixth save in seven chances, striking out a swinging Andrew McCutchen with a runner on first to end it. Verlander set a season high for strikeouts, although he said his fastball control still wasnt quite good enough. "Better? Yes. Where I want it? No," he said. "You have a couple bad starts, and the worlds on your shoulder -- Whats wrong? Whats wrong? -- but hey, that comes with the territory. Im OK with that. I can deal with it." Francisco Liriano (3-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings. Pittsburgh third baseman Brandon Inge, who played for the Tigers for over a decade, was a late addition to the starting lineup. Outfielder Starling Marte was removed shortly before the game because of migraine-like symptoms, and the ensuing shuffling of the lineup gave Inge his first chance to play at Comerica Park as a member of the visiting team. Inge fielded Omar Infantes grounder with his bare hand and threw him out in the first inning, but he went 0 for 4 at the plate with three strikeouts. The Pirates had pulled within one in the eighth when Inge came to the plate, but pinch-runner Josh Harrison was picked off second, and Inge struck out looking against Benoit. Pittsburghs Neil Walker tripled in the first and scored on a sacrifice fly by McCutchen. Liriano was cruising along until Prince Fielder, Victor Martinez and Peralta opened the Detroit fourth with consecutive singles to tie it at 1. Liriano allowed no more than a run in each of his first three starts -- the Pirates had to wait for him to return after he broke his right (non-throwing) arm in a freak accident on Christmas Day. He allowed three runs in the fifth Monday. Martinez came to the plate with two on and two out. His double down the line bounced weirdly off the short fence in foul territory, and both runners came in to score for a 3-1 lead. Martinez then scored on Peraltas double. Travis Snider hit an RBI triple in the seventh and Walker followed with a double to make it 4-3, but McCutchen struck out swinging on Verlanders final pitch. The Tigers added two runs in the seventh against Jose Contreras, who retired only one batter while allowing a hit and four walks. "We battled back against the best pitcher in the game, and then we battled back against one of the best eighth-inning men in the game," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "I just didnt plan for Contreras going out there and walking four guys. We need him to pitch that inning -- we cant use the same guys every day -- and he couldnt do it. That really hurt us." Benoit gave up a double to Garrett Jones to start the eighth, and Russell Martins hard grounder got past Fielder at first for an error, allowing a run to score. Gaby Sanchez hit a one-out RBI double to make it 6-5 with Inge coming to the plate, but Harrison was picked off and Inge struck out. It was Peraltas first four-hit game since June 4, 2010, when he was playing for Cleveland. The Detroit shortstop is now hitting .341 -- 102 points higher than where he finished 2012. "Hes swinging a magic wand right now," Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter said. "He can poke the bat out and get a hit. He can swing hard and get a hit. Its a lot of fun to play the game like that." NOTES: Verlander is 20-2 in interleague play. ... Detroits Miguel Cabrera struck out three times and had his hitting streak snapped at 12 games. ... It started raining around the end of the fifth, but there were no delays. ... Detroits Rick Porcello (2-2) faces Pittsburghs Jeanmar Gomez (2-0) on Tuesday night. Discount Custom Nike NFL Jerseys . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Custom NFL Jerseys China . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. http://www.customjerseysnfl.com/ . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Cheap Custom NFL Jerseys .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Authentic NFL Custom Jerseys . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost .Sky Sports have announced details of the Champions Cup quarter-finals between Saracens and Northampton, as well as Racing 92 v Toulon. In a repeat of last seasons Aviva Premiership semi-final, unbeaten Saracens take on their domestic rivals at Allianz Park after finishing as top seeds of the pool stages.Northampton nabbed the last qualifier place, finishing as eighth seeds to set up a clash between the two English giants. The sides have already met once this season, with Saracens coming away with a 12-6 victory at Franklins Gardens thanks to the boot of Owen Farrell.In another scintillating derby, four-in-a-row-chasing Toulon take on Dan Carters Racing 92 at Stade Yves-du-Manoir in a titanic battle between the Top 14 powerhouses. Carter led his side to the top of Pool 3, where they secured big wins over Glasgow and Scarlets at home. Toulon qualified as one of the best runners-up after beating Bath in their final pool game Toulon finished second in their pool, losing to Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in the second round of fixtures, but would not have qualified for the knock-out stages at all if not for a late try from Drew Mitchell in the return fixture and final round win at Bath.ddddddddddddIn the Challenge Cup, Sky Sports will broadcast Sale Sharks match against Montpellier and the Dragons trip to Kingsholm to take on Gloucester.World Cup stars Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis could potentially partner up in the front row for Montpellier, while Danny Cipriani will be looking to further his England cause by taking Sale to the semi-finals.European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finalsSaturday, April 9Wasps v Exeter Chiefs (3.15pm)Saracens v Northampton Saints (5.45pm, live on Sky Sports)Sunday, April 10Leicester Tigers v Stade Francais (1.45pm)Racing 92 v RC Toulon (5.15pm GMT, live on Sky Sports)European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finalsFriday, April 8Sale Sharks v Montpellier (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)Saturday, April 9 Gloucester Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons (12.45pm, live on Sky Sports)Harlequins v London Irish (8.05pm)Grenoble v Connacht (8.05pm GMT) Also See: WATCH: Clermont controversy Lions: Lancaster a candidate Champions Cup fixtures Champions Cup standings ' ' '