DETROIT -- New York Mets manager Terry Collins has to remind himself that his young ace is, indeed, quite young.Noah Syndergaard needed 112 pitches to get through six innings, allowing four runs in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.Noah is so good that we lose sight of the fact that hes a 23-year-old who is still learning how to pitch, Collins said. His last few starts are the first time hes really had a tough stretch in the major leagues, and thats going to be an important learning experience for him.Syndergaard (9-6) is 0-3 in his last five starts, and hasnt made it past the sixth inning in any of them.Im trying to be too fine with my pitches instead of just trusting my stuff and letting it go, he said. I know I have the stuff to go out there and be dominant, but Ive got to let myself do it. Im not pitching badly, but Im not doing what I know I can do.Tigers ace Justin Verlander was the star once again, holding the Mets to four hits in six innings. Since July 1, he is 5-0 in seven starts with a 1.85 ERA.Victor Martinez homered to help the Tigers win for the ninth time in 10 games, moving within two of first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.Obviously, being in the race adds some excitement, Verlander said. Obviously, everyone knows where we are at, and weve been around long enough that were doing some scoreboard watching, but it all comes down to how we finish.Verlander (12-6) allowed only two runs and struck out nine, but the Mets ran his pitch count up to 103 to force him out of the game. Three relievers finished, with Francisco Rodriguez pitching the ninth for his 31st save.James Loney drove in a ninth-inning run with a groundout, and Rodriguez retired Kelly Johnson to end the game. Johnson homered in the fourth for the Mets, who are two games out of the second National League wild-card spot.We had some chances, but that guy on the mound for the Tigers is awfully good, Collins said. Verlanders one of those guys that can get himself out of just about any jam, so you have to get him fast.Syndergaard gave up seven hits and two walks, striking out seven.The Tigers took advantage of Syndergaards weakness holding runners in the first. Ian Kinsler led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on Miguel Cabreras groundout. Opponents are 32 of 36 on steal attempts in Syndergaards 22 starts this season.We had an idea about running today, but you cant do anything until Ian gets himself on first base, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. He got on base and got himself to third, so while Miggy gets the RBI, Kins basically created that run.Verlander was cruising until he walked Jay Bruce on a 3-2 pitch in the fourth. He retired Loney for the second out of the inning, but Johnson hit his second homer in two nights to give the Mets a 2-1 lead.Martinez got the lead back in the bottom of the inning, lining Syndergaards changeup deep into the right-field stands for a two-run homer. James McCann added an RBI single in the inning to make it 4-2.After we got the lead, I went out to the mound telling myself that, no matter what, I couldnt blow it, Syndergaard said. Well, thats like telling someone not to think about a pink elephant. I think every major mistake I made tonight was in that inning.TRAINERS ROOMMets: OF Yoenis Cespedes (quadriceps) is on the disabled list, costing him his first visit back to Detroit since he was traded at last years deadline. Cespedes was popular with Tigers fans.Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermanns MRI showed no damage to the lat muscle that bothered him in Thursdays poor start. Zimmermann will throw a bullpen session on Sunday before the Tigers decide if he will make his next start. .... CF Cameron Maybin sat out his second straight game with a bruised thumb.INTERLEAGUE STARSThe Mets have the best interleague record (.518) of any National League team since games began in 1996, but the Tigers are significantly better at .546. Since 2006, the Tigers are second in the majors at .620 (124-76).UP NEXTThe teams play the second game in their weekend series Saturday evening, with Matt Boyd (2-2, 4.71) facing New Yorks Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.20). Boyd will be making his first interleague start, while Verrett made his first on Monday, getting a no-decision against the Yankees.Blue Jays Jerseys China .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys . 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Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League.Maryland and Boston College will rekindle their former conference rivalry in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit.The game also reunites the head coaches for both teams. The Terrapins D.J. Durkin and the Eagles Steve Addazio were on the same staff at Florida in 2010.Our families are friends, Addazio said. Listen, D.J. was one of my favorite guys to ever work with. Hes intense. Hes a heck of a football coach. I think the world of him.The Eagles (6-6) won their final two games to earn a bowl bid after going 3-9 in 2015. Durkin was able to weather numerous injuries in his first year at Maryland (6-6) and earn a win over Rutgers in the regular season finale to earn a trip to the postseason.A win would go a long way for both teams in setting a positive toneheading into the new year.The biggest thing when youre coming in, trying to establish, the word culture is used a lot, Durkin said. Theres a lot that goes into that, but it was very important, I think just trying to establish it with our guys of how we do things, the type of mindset, how we practice, how we train, how we play. Im very pleased with the amount of buy-in we had from our seniors and our team and this is a great reward for them.Maryland, which moved to the Big Ten in 2014, is just 3-8 all-time against Boston College, including nine games when they were both members of the ACC.The key for Maryland is protecting quarterback Perry Hills, who has dealt with injuriees throughout the season.ddddddddddddHills has thrown for 1,235 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He has also run for 326 yards with four scores.We think hes been a really good player for us this year when hes been healthy, Durkin said about Hills. Weve had some ups and downs based on his health. He was back for us the last game of the year. Hes back healthy now.Maryland sophomore running back Ty Johnson, the teams leading rusher with 845 yards, has also been a force this season. Johnson is averaging 8.9 yards per carry, which is on pace to be the best average in 63 years and second-most in Maryland history.Overall, Marylands rushing offense averaged 205.5 yards, ranking third in the Big Ten.The Eagles will counter with a tough defense led by defensive end Harold Landry, who tied for first in the ACC with 15 sacks. Boston College allowed 311 yards per game -- eighth best in the nation.Playing stout defense will be key because the Eagles offense has scored just 19 points per game.Our program is built on playing defense, running the football, scoring in the red zone, you know, dont turn the ball over, time of possession, Addazio said. I mean, these guys, theyre a high-flying, fast-tempo, you know, Im just hoping they dont score 9,000 points. That wouldnt be good for the old BC Eagles. ' ' '