DETROIT -- Justin Verlander often flirted with no-hitters and tossed complete games earlier in his career. He nearly did both in his longest start of the season Wednesday night.

Verlander won his third consecutive start after having his no-hit bid broken up with two outs in the sixth inning and the Detroit Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak by thumping the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-0 at Comerica Park.

Josh Bell's double off the glove of third baseman Nick Castellanos was the lone hit off Verlander (8-7), whose eight-inning stint surpassed his previous season high by a full inning.

"Getting deep into ballgames, that's something that's kind of eluded me recently," said Verlander, who is 3-2 with a 1.91 ERA since July 8. "The last few starts it's gotten better and better."

Verlander, who tipped his cap to the crowd after his final inning, struck out four of the last five batters he faced. He walked three and struck out six.

The night could have been more special if Castellanos, who was playing well off the line, could have gathered in Bell's grounder.

"You can't help but notice it, especially after four or five innings," Verlander said. "But you just kind of remind yourself there's a long way to go. ... Nick almost made a great play. It was a hard-hit ball, a clean hit."

Verlander's outing provides even more evidence for contending teams that he could be a missing piece to a championship. A deal beyond the non-waiver deadline is more unlikely but not impossible.

"Early in the season, he had some command issues, he had some walks," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "That's calmed down a bit, but it's kind of like he did a couple years ago in the second half of the season. He's really shown that he's still got Justin Verlander stuff of old."

Castellanos led the Tigers' attack with three hits and matched a career high with five RBIs, including a bases-clearing triple in the seventh inning. Ian Kinsler supplied a solo homer and a three-run double while scoring four runs for Detroit (52-61).

Ivan Nova (10-9) gave up six runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Pirates (56-58), who had won five of their last six games.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said the team needed to forget about the lopsided loss quickly.

"That's the best approach for us," he said. "It was a game for a while and then it got away from us late."

Hurdle elected to leave Nova in the game during the seventh after he issued his first two walks of the game and hit Miguel Cabrera with a pitch. That backfired when Castellanos drilled a pitch into the right-center field gap to make it 6-0.

"He's still always got a ground ball in his pocket," Hurdle said. "When you look at him, that's what you think. So I may have asked him to do something that maybe he didn't have the weaponry to do at that particular point in time."

The Tigers used three singles to score a first-inning run. Kinsler led off with a base hit, advanced to second on another by Cabrera and scored on Castellanos' hit.

Detroit tacked on two runs in the second. John Hicks led off with a double to the right field corner and advanced to third when Gregory Polanco bobbled the ball. He scored on Andrew Romine's sacrifice fly.

Kinsler made it 3-0 with a solo shot over the left-field wall.

NOTES: Detroit RHP Michael Fulmer played catch from approximately 80 feet and could be close to returning from the 10-day disabled list. Fulmer, who is recovering from right elbow ulnar neuritis, will throw a bullpen session Friday if there are no setbacks. Manager Brad Ausmus said Fulmer would likely return to the rotation next week after missing only two starts. ... The Tigers optioned 3B Jeimer Candelario to Triple-A Toledo to make room for SS Jose Iglesias, who was activated off the bereavement list. .. Detroit LF Justin Upton, who leads the team in home runs and RBIs, got the night off. ... Pirates LF Starling Marte had multi-hit games in his last four starts at Comerica Park. ... Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli went 0-for-3. He had reached base in his previous 10 career games at Comerica with at least one plate appearances.