Topic: Winner Justin Verlander

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander's two-year, $50 million contract with the Houston Astros received formal approval from MLB, even at a time when the league has locked out its players amid a labor dispute.

BOSTON -- The Houston Astros clinched their first trip to the American League Championship Series with a 5-4 victory against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of their AL Division Series on a rainy Monday afternoon at Fenway Park.

An MRI exam on former American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander's groin injury showed no evidence of structural damage, the Detroit Tigers announced on Monday.

Placido Polanco's two-out, three-run home run in the eighth inning pushed Detroit into the lead and the Tigers held on Sunday to edge the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3.

Clete Thomas knocked in a career-high five runs Sunday, fueling Detroit's 10-1 rout of Cleveland.

Brandon Inge's three-run, sixth-inning homer Sunday powered Detroit to a 3-2 inter-league win over Milwaukee and completed a three-game sweep.

Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez each drove in a run in the seventh inning Sunday, sending the Detroit Tigers on to a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Detroit put a stranglehold on the American League Championship Series Wednesday night with an 8-5 win over Oakland.

Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday night to help Detroit beat Cleveland, 3-1, for its eighth straight victory.

Chris Shelton was 3-for-4 with two triples and three RBI Saturday night as Detroit beat the Texas Rangers, 7-0, to remain unbeaten after five games.