* TV audience increases 110% as drama builds in final innings
* TV, website and Dan Patrick Show recap no-hit performance
Saturday, May 7 was a much-welcomed warm, sunny afternoon throughout Michigan, a state still thawing out from a long winter. It was the kind of day to work in the yard, plant a garden, go for a bike ride or other outdoor activities. Staying inside to watch the Tigers-Blue Jays 4 pm game on FOX Sports Detroit might have been a secondary thought to many. That is, until word began to spread that a near-perfect day could possibly become even more so, thanks to Tigers pitching ace Justin Verlander...
When Verlander entered the late innings without having allowed a base runner, many fans and media members began to spread the news via social network sources. FOX Sports Detroit alerted its 47,000+ followers on Facebook and Twitter, without mentioning the "P" word (so as not to jinx Verlander, of course!).
As news traveled about something special happening in Toronto, Tigers fans flocked to their televisions to catch the closing innings. Despite an 8th inning walk that negated perfection, viewers remained riveted as Verlander was able to complete his second no-hitter in four seasons. Viewership measured in metro Detroit on FOX Sports Detroit increased from a 4.8 Nielsen household rating/11 share in the middle innings, to a peak of 10.1 HH/21 share for the final outs, an increase of 110%.
The excitement in one TV home was captured in this YouTube video.
After the Game: The game telecast and the postgame edition of Tigers Live combined to include an immediate interview with Verlander, reflections from announcers Mario Impemba and Rod Allen and clubhouse reaction. 
On the Web: After the telecast ended, fans continued to receive comprehensive coverage at Foxsportsdetroit.com including story, column and blog contributions from Dave Dye, Foxsports.com national baseball correspondent Jon Paul Morosi, Mario Impemba, Art Regner and Mike O'Hara. The site also featured a photo gallery.
Front Page News: The no-hitter naturally was the lead story in Sunday's Detroit Free Press, highlighted by the photo of Verlander and FOX Sports Detroit's Trevor Thompson being doused by a bucket of ice water (right).
The Winning Horse: FOX Sports Detroit analyst Rod Allen had a terrific line soon after the final out: "They may have run the Kentucky Derby today, but the Tiger horse (Verlander) was number one." His quote received kudos from a sports broadcasting blog, which on this occasion departed from its moniker -- AwfulAnnouncing.com -- recognizing Allen's comment as "...the perfect call".
Dan Patrick Show: The Verlander victory tour continued Monday with an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, televised across the country on FOX Sports regional networks.
No-Hitters? No Problem: FOX Sports Detroit has televised three no-hitters in the last five years (Verlander vs. Milwaukee 6/12/07; Matt Garza of Tampa Bay vs. Tigers 7/26/10 and Verlander vs. Toronto 5/7/11), as well as the controversial "28-out perfect game" by former Tigers pitcher Amando Galarraga vs. Cleveland on 6/2/10.
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