Hardy hit his third homer off Verlander (8-5) this month, connecting for a two-run shot in the fourth inning, and Jones added a three-run drive in the fifth.

Zach Britton (1-1) allowed a run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings after being called up earlier in the day from the minors to make this start.

Four Baltimore relievers finished. Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 30 chances.

Verlander gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Scherzer became the first pitcher to begin a season 10-0 — with all decisions coming in starts — since Roger Clemens went 11-0 for Toronto in 1997, according to STATS. Scherzer is the second pitcher in Detroit history to start this strong since 1909 when George Mullin was 11-0 with one victory as a reliever, the Elias Sports Bureau said in information provided by the Tigers.

Scherzer allowed one run and seven hits in six innings. Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 24th homer in the second, but struck out with the bases loaded in the fifth and the Orioles down by two runs.

Meanwhile.....The Detroit Tigers have placed right-hander Anibal Sanchez and catcher Alex Avila on the 15-day disabled list.

Detroit recalled outfielder Avisail Garcia and catcher Bryan Holaday from Triple-A Toledo on Monday before it series opener against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Tigers plan to call up left-hander Jose Alvarez from Toledo to start in place on Sanchez on Thursday in their series opener against the Boston Red Sox.

Sanchez is expected to miss two starts because of a strained right shoulder and Avila will be out with a bruised left forearm.

Fister (6-4) didn't allow a baserunner until walking Ryan Doumit with two outs in the fourth inning, then lost his no-hit bid when Brian Dozier led off the sixth with a homer.

Fister allowed two runs and two hits — both to Dozier — in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out seven, walked two and won for the first time in his last six starts.

Joaquin Benoit pitched the final 1 1-3 innings, earning his fourth save.

Hunter and Austin Jackson both hit two-run homers for Detroit.

P.J. Walters (2-2) gave up four runs on nine hits and three walks in 5 1-3 innings.

Five-time runner-up Phil Mickelson grabbed the early clubhouse lead in the first round. He didn't get much sleep before his first round began, but as it turned out it didn't really matter. After attending his daughter's eighth-grade graduation on Wednesday in San Diego, Mickelson flew cross-country through the night and arrived at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., just four hours before his 7:11 a.m. tee time. He then proceeded to shoot an opening round 3-under-67

It was his lowest opening round since 1999 in the Open.

The two weather delays totaled four hours and 13 minutes.

Tiger Woods was on the course when play was stopped. The world's top-ranked player was 2-over through 10 holes. Defending champ Webb Simpson had completed eight holes and was 2-under.

— Tom Werkmeister of Kentwood has become the first amateur to win the Michigan Open since 1975. Werkmeister shot an even-par 72 yesterday at The Orchards Golf Club in Washington Township. He is just the fifth amateur to win the 96-year-old tournament.

The Crunch scored first about halfway through the first period, but Tomas Tatar and Luke Glendening responded with a goal each in the second. Another goal from Syracuse left the game tied at the end of the second period.

In the third period, Jan Mursak broke that tie to give the Griffins the lead. Team captain Jeff Hoggan scored with only 2:28 left in the game to secure the win.

Game #4 will take place in Grand Rapids Friday night. The game has been sold out.

Scherzer became the first Tigers starter to begin the season 9-0 since Vern Kennedy in 1938 by pitching seven sharp innings.

He limited the Royals to three hits and two runs, while striking out six and walking two.

Aaron Crow (2-2), who was a college teammate of Scherzer's at Missouri, took the loss after pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh.

Crow hit Miguel Cabrera with a pitch to start the eighth. Cabrera advanced to third on Prince Fielder's single to right on a full count and scored on Victor Martinez's sacrifice fly to left. That was the first run allowed by the Kansas City bullpen in 21 innings.

The team announced the move Monday night.

Detroit fired Lawrence Frank in April, a day after the once-proud franchise finished 29-53. Frank was 54-94 in two seasons with the Pistons.

Cheeks was 284-286 in the regular season and 5-11 in the playoffs as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers.

He was fired by Philadelphia during the 2008-09 season with a 9-14 record. Cheeks spent the past four seasons as an Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach. The Chicago native played 15 seasons in the NBA, helping the Sixers win a championship in 1983.

Alvarez (1-0) was starting because of Anibal Sanchez's shoulder tightness, and he held Cleveland hitless until Ryan Raburn's fifth-inning homer. The 24-year-old left-hander allowed three hits and a walk and struck out seven.

Drew Smyly pitched two innings of relief. Joaquin Benoit finished for his third save.

Justin Masterson (8-5) allowed four runs in seven innings. He gave up a walk to Miguel Cabrera and a single to Prince Fielder to start the Detroit sixth. One out later, Kelly lifted a

— Detroit Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson will join Triple-A Toledo on Monday for a rehab assignment as part of his recovery from a pulled left hamstring.

Jackson hasn't played since May 11. Avisail Garcia has done a nice job filling in for him in center field, but the Tigers are eager for their leadoff hitter to return.

Jackson is hitting .272 with five stolen bases.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said before Sunday's game against Cleveland that it's possible Jackson could join the major league club this week in a series at Minnesota.

Scherzer (8-0) allowed a run and four hits, walking two. He is the first Detroit pitcher to start the season 8-0 since Jeremy Bonderman in 2007.

Joaquin Benoit allowed a run in the eighth, and Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save in nine chances.

Martinez went deep in the fourth for his fourth home run of the year, giving Detroit a 2-0 lead. Miguel Cabrera drove in a run the following inning with a single.

Roberto Hernandez (3-6) allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Everything that happened against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday turned around Wednesday as they reached the AHL's Calder Cup Finals.

A two-goal lead blown in the third period on Tuesday? The Griffins overcame a one-goal margin in the final period on Wednesday.

A missed penalty shot by Tomas Jurco in the third period Tuesday? Wednesday's game-winning goal came from Jurco in the third period.

It culminated with goaltender Petr Mrazek withstanding a flurry of last-second shots, a final buzzer, 4,110 fans sounding like 10,000 and a mad dash of teammates to embrace Mrazek and each other in celebration of the Griffins’ first appearance in the championship series.

The Griffins will open the series at Syracuse with the first two games Saturday and Sunday.