Jones goes deep into archives to help Verlander

ST. PETERSBURG -- What was wrong with Justin Verlander? Pitching coach Jeff Jones went back "a couple of years" in the Tigers' archives to find out.

On Saturday night, after allowing the Tampa Bay Rays to score three runs on nine hits in a no-decision, Verlander revealed he had changed the tilt of his shoulders after working with Jones in the bullpen following his previous start.

The changes worked.

"I thought that was the best he's thrown in a while," manager Jim Leyland said.

Jones said he watched Verlander throw on the sidelines and reviewed films of his games for the past couple of years, searching for the answer as to why the Tiger right-hander has been struggling this season.

What Jones discovered was that Verlander's front arm was "getting higher and higher."

"Justin has a great feel for when he does something wrong," Jones said. "But he didn't feel this one."

"I felt my fastball command was much better right out of the gate," Verlander said.