Detroit ? The ball left Justin Verlander’s hand, and Mike Aviles knew right away he had no chance, so he simply watched the breaking ball drop over the outside corner of the plate and then flung his bat away in exasperation.

“Why even try and swing?” Aviles said. “That’s just the way it went.”

Verlander made an impressive bid to become the second pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters before allowing an RBI triple to Kansas City’s Melky Cabrera in the sixth inning of Detroit’s 3-1 victory Friday night.

In his first start since throwing a no-hitter at Toronto on Saturday, Verlander pitched 5 2/3 hitless innings before Cabrera sent a line drive to the gap in right-center field. Verlander was trying to equal Cincinnati’s Johnny Vander Meer, who threw two straight no-hitters in 1938.

Verlander (4-3) settled for another outstanding outing, allowing a run on two hits and three walks in eight innings. He struck out seven.