Justin Verlander was going for his third career no-hitter in Detroit on Friday night.

He would join Nolan Ryan (seven), Sandy Koufax (four), Cy Young (three), Bob Feller (three), and Larry Corcoran (three) as the only pitchers in major-league history to throw more than two if he could complete the ninth inning without allowing a hit. He entered the ninth having thrown 95 pitches, 66 for strikes.

Suspense! Follow along.

The leadoff batter was No. 9 hitter Michael McKenry, the Pirates’ catcher. McKenry hit a 3-2 ground ball to shortstop and Jhonny Peralta threw him out.

Next was Josh Harrison, serving as designated hitter. Verlander ran the count to 0-2, partly on Harrison’s swing at a pitch in the dirt, and then after an inside pitch made the count 1-2, Harrison laced a soft line drive up the middle to break up the no-hitter.

The crowd gave Verlander a nice ovation, and he eventually completed a one-hit shutout over the Pirates; the Tigers won 6-0.