four-run lead over an ailing Justin Verlander

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates already had a four-run lead over an ailing Justin Verlander when Travis Snider threw out a runner at the plate in the second for an inning-ending double play. "It very well couldve been one of those things you talk about as a momentum-changer," manager Clint Hurdle said. Snider not only saved runs, he created them. Snider hit a pair of home runs and drove in four, Starling Marte added three RBIs and the Pirates coasted to an 11-6 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. Gregory Polanco also threw out a runner at the plate, when Rajai Davis tried to score from second on Miguel Cabreras single in the eighth. Even with a five-run lead at the time, the game couldve become much closer. "They left as many men on base as we did," Hurdle said. "They were a swing of the bat from being right back in the game three times tonight." Verlander (10-11) gave up five runs on four hits and walked two before he was removed after pitching one inning with right shoulder soreness. "Just didnt feel great," Verlander said, "and disappointing on a night that the team really needed me." The loss, coupled with Kansas Citys 3-2 win over Oakland, dropped the Tigers a half-game behind the now first-place Royals in the AL Central Division. Pittsburgh loaded the bases against Verlander with one out in the first inning, and Marte cleared them with a triple down the left-field line. Snider drove Marte home when his grounder to first took an odd hop, and Victor Martinez couldnt glove it. Verlander threw 40 pitches and bunted in the second before he was removed. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI in Detroit on Tuesday. "Id be lying if I said I wasnt a little nervous," Verlander said. "Ive never been through this before." Verlander added there was no sharp pain in his shoulder, but manager Brad Ausmus removed him from the game to risk any further injury. Snider knocked in two more in the eighth inning off Phil Coke with his eighth homer, a two-run, opposite-field shot. Martin hit his sixth home run of the year in the sixth inning, and Ike Davis followed with his eighth. Snider was 3 for 5 and scored three runs. "Just another day," Snider said. "For me, its nice to contribute offensively, and defensively, and help this team win." Detroit scored three runs in the sixth to get within 8-4 and knock Pittsburgh starter Jeff Locke out of the game. Cabrera, Martinez and Torii Hunter started the inning with consecutive hits, and Cabrera scored on Hunters double. Alex Avila drove Martinez home with a single, and Hunter scored when Don Kelly hit into a fielders choice. Locke (4-3) was responsible for four runs, eight hits and four walks in five-plus innings. TRAINERS ROOM Tigers: Detroit placed RHP Joakim Soria on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to Sunday. Pirates: Pittsburgh placed CF Andrew McCutchen on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken rib. The move is retroactive to Aug. 4. ... 2B Neil Walker (back) was out of the starting lineup for the sixth straight game. ... RHP Gerrit Cole returned to Pittsburgh after making his third rehab start Sunday. He has been on the DL since July 5 with a strained right lat. There is still no timetable for his return to action. ON DECK Tigers: LHP Robby Ray (1-1, 4.70 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo to start on Tuesday in Detroits second of two games in Pittsburgh. In one start this season against Minnesota on May 11, Ray pitched six shutout innings. Pirates: RHP Edinson Volquez (9-7, 3.70 ERA) starts for the Pirates after allowing one hit in seven shutout innings against Miami on Thursday. Volquez hasnt fared well against Detroit in two career starts, allowing eight runs in 9 2-3 innings. STAFF SHAKEUP In addition to Sorias placement on the disabled list, the Tigers optioned left-handed relievers Patrick McCoy and Blaine Hardy to Triple-A Toledo. Taking their places are RHP Justin Miller and LHP Ian Krol. The Tigers also purchased the contract of RHP Kevin Whelan from Toledo and unconditionally released LHP Casey Crosby. Detroits relievers have compiled a 4.38 ERA this season, the fifth-worst in the majors. In the starting rotation, RHP Rick Porcellos start has been pushed pack to Friday. Detroit will start RHP Buck Farmer on Wednesday and RHP Max Scherzer is slated to start Thursday. Air Max Plus For Sale Cheap . According to a report from ESPN, Lynch wants a new contract from the Seahawks, and will likely skip all off-season workouts until he can renegotiate his deal with the Seahawks. Cheap Air Max Plus . - After a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, Alex Guenette has earned the 2013 rookie of the year award for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 by just one point over Ryley Seibert. http://www.cheapairmaxplus.net/. - Chris Davis hit a two-run double, scoring Nelson Cruz in his Orioles debut in Baltimores 9-7 win over to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Wholesale Air Max Plus . After Mariota was pushed around by Stanford on Thursday, finishing 20/34 with 250 yards and two touchdowns in Oregons Title hope-crushing defeat, hes going to need a poor performance or two from the remaining frontrunners to have a shot at the most coveted individual trophy in college sports. Cheap Air Max Plus Mens . -- Gary Harris gave No.NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Titans have kicked off their search for a new head coach by interviewing Cincinnati Bengals offensive co-ordinator Jay Gruden. The Titans confirmed Tuesday that Gruden had finished interviewing with general manager Ruston Webster. Gruden has been the Bengals offensive co-ordinator the past three seasons as Cincinnati reached the playoffs each of those years. Gruden interviewed last season with four different teams about head coaching jobs. The Titans are one of five NFL teams still looking for a new coach after firing Mike Munchak after three seasons on Saturday. This is only the teams second coaching search since leaving Texas for Tennessee in 1997, and the first conducted by Webster. Tennessee went 7-9 this season extending a playoff drought to five straight years with the last post-season win back in January 2003. Gruden, who interviewed with Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Arizona and San Diego for head coaching jobs last season, is available to interview now because the Bengals (11-6) lost to San Diego in the wild-card round Sunday. Gruden also is due to interview Wednesday with the Washington Redskins, according to a person with familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not made information on the search public.dddddddddddd He played in college at Louisville between 1985 and 1988 before winning four titles in the Arena Football League as a quarterback. He got his start in coaching in Nashville with the then-Nashville Kats in the AFL in 1997 before becoming head coach of the AFLs Orlando Predators where he won two more league titles. Gruden went to work in the NFL in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an offensive assistant working seven seasons for his brother Jon Gruden. Webster also worked for the Buccaneers during part of that time. The Titans also have asked for permission to talk to Jim Caldwell, the Ravens offensive co-ordinator and former Indianapolis head coach, according to John Wooten. The chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance said Caldwell is expected to interview with Tennessee later this week. Other candidates reportedly include Bengals defensive co-ordinator Mike Zimmer and Dallas special teams coach Rich Bisaccia. Chargers offensive co-ordinator Ken Whisenhunt and Seahawks defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn also are expected to be candidates but cannot interview while their teams remain in the playoffs. ' ' '