Gose makes highlight-reel catch for Verlander

DETROIT -- Anthony Gose gave Justin Verlander a welcome present for his return from the disabled list. With his mad dash and diving catch in deep center field, he enabled Verlander to retire the side in order in his first inning of the season in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

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It was a combination of Gose's foot speed and athleticism that made the play to deny Michael Brantley an extra-base hit. Gose was playing Brantley towards left-center field when the left-handed hitter got a 3-2 fastball and drove it just to the right of dead center.

Gose has the legs to cover that amount of ground at full speed. What he needed was the hang time on the ball to give him a chance.

"I just ran and caught the ball," Gose said. "I felt like I got a pretty good jump."

From there, he stretched out and extended his glove just in time to make the grab. While a packed crowd at Comerica Park marveled, Verlander raised his arms on his way off the mound, then waited for Gose to get back to the dugout.

"I made a catch, and he said, 'Thank you,'" Gose said. "Gotta keep playing the game."

"That was pretty sweet," Verlander said. "I told Gose after that catch in the first inning, 'You saved it for me.' He said during BP a few days ago -- he made a nice play shagging balls during batting practice -- 'Hey Verlander, I'm saving that one for ya in the game.' He goes and makes a spectacular play in the first, so I had to give him props for that." 

Gose entered the day ranked fifth among American League center fielders with a 2.98 Range Factor. Surprisingly, he has a -0.1 Defense WAR, in part thanks to three errors.