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MLB: Detroit 6, Pittsburgh 5

DETROIT, May 27 (UPI) -- Justin Verlander struck out 13 over seven innings and Jhonny Peralta backed him with three RBI Monday in Detroit's 6-5 interleague win over Pittsburgh.

Verlander (6-4) allowed three runs on seven hits, issuing a pair of walks before exiting with a 4-3 lead in the seventh.

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Jose Valverde turned back a late Pirates rally in the ninth with his sixth save as Detroit reeled off a sixth victory in seven games.

Peralta finished 4-for-4 in the victory. His RBI double in the fifth put the Tigers ahead 4-1 and his run-scoring infield hit in the seventh gave Detroit a 5-3 advantage.

Victor Martinez added two hits, including a two-run double, as the Tigers took the opener of a four-game interleague series.

Pirates starter Francisco Liriano (3-1) absorbed his first loss after three straight triumphs to begin the season. The left-hander allowed four runs on eight hits over five full frames.

Travis Snider went 3-for-5 with a run-scoring triple while Neil Walker and Gaby Sanchez each added two hits and an RBI for the Bucs, who fell for only the second time in eight games.

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