Verlander throws two scoreless innings as Tigers roll

At Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

What happened: The Tigers beat the Braves, 12-6. … Justin Verlander made his first start of the spring, throwing 42 pitches over two innings. He allowed no runs. … Anthony Gose and Hernan Perez each had three hits. … Alex Avila returned to the lineup, going 1-for-2. He walked twice – once with the bases loaded to drive in a run – and struck out once. … The Tigers scored four runs in the first and seven in the fourth.

Starting line: Verlander had an easy first inning, and a hard second, falling into a jam but working his way out. He threw two scoreless innings, allowed a hit, struck out two and walked two while working on his breaking ball. "I had pretty good results with it," he said.

At the plate: Gose continued to pepper the opposite field, with two of his three hits going to left-center. Gose drove in two runs, scored two runs and is 6-for-11 this spring. … Hernan Perez had three hits, two of the run-scoring variety, including a two-RBI single in the first inning. … Daniel Fields hit a solo home run.

On the bases: Gose created havoc on the basepaths, forcing an error on a routine force play in the first inning. The centerfielder has the green light this spring, manager Brad Ausmus said, and has attempted a number of steals so far.

On the mound: Joe Nathan threw an easy, 1-2-3 inning, hitting 92 M.P.H. on the stadium radar gun and inducing a pair of protective swings on his slider. ... Kyle Lobstein couldn't find the plate, walking four batters in an inning-plus of work. He allowed one run and struck out three. …

Overheard: "Yeah, with a strikeout," Verlander said about working out of a jam. "That was nice."

Three stars: 1. Gose, 2. Perez, 3. Nathan.

Up next: Sunday vs. Houston in Lakeland.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.