joined Miguel Cabrera in the 100 RBI club with a 3-run homer that gave him 101 on the season. September 26: Doug Fister tossed 8 shutout innings as the Tigers clobbered Cleveland, 14–0. Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 to up his AL-leading batting average to .343. September 28: Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 on the final day of the season to raise his batting average to .344 and lock up the AL batting title. Jhonny Peralta hit his 21st home run of the season to break a 4–4 tie. José Valverde preserved the 5–4 lead over the Indians with his 49th straight save, completing his perfect season. After a remarkable September where the team went 20–6, and winning 38 of their last 54 games over the season's final two months, the Tigers finished the regular season with a 95–67 record—winning the AL Central by an astounding 15 games—and clinching the #3 seed in the American League playoffs. It would be Detroit's first postseason appearance since 2006. Individual accomplishments Justin Verlander Ace starting pitcher Justin Verlander had the best season of his career. On May 7, Verlander took a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays into the 8th inning, and after a walk to J. P. Arencibia, Verlander got his double play and went on to the 9th inning to complete his second career no-hitter. It was the seventh no-hitter in Tigers history. He faced the minimum 27 batters and recorded four strikeouts with one walk and a pitch count of 108. Verlander became the second Tigers pitcher since Virgil Trucks, and the thirtieth pitcher in the history of baseball, to throw multiple no-hitters. Verlander also won the 100th game of his career and became the first Tiger pitcher to win 20 games in a season since Bill Gullickson in 1991. Verlander's regular season total of 24 wins is the highest for a Tiger pitcher since Mickey Lolich won 25 in 1971. Verlander finished the season by winning the AL pitching Triple Crown, leading the American League in wins (24), ERA (2.40) and strikeouts (250). On November 15, Verlander was named the AL Cy Young Award winner in a unanimous vote. On November 21, it was announced that Verlander had also won the American League MVP Award in a much closer vote. José Valverde 2011 was also a career best season for closer José Valverde. On September 11, he recorded his 43rd