The Detroit Tigers’ latest tight one didn’t just cost them a game. It also snapped a remarkable run from Troy Melton.
Chicago beat Detroit 4-3 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series, handing the Tigers another frustrating one-run loss against a division opponent. Melton, who has been a steady force in the rotation all season, took the ball looking to help Detroit get back in the win column. Instead, the White Sox knocked him around enough to end a piece of franchise history.
Before the game, Tigers PR on X said Melton had gone at least 5.0 innings and allowed five or fewer hits in nine straight starts, the longest single-season streak by a Tigers pitcher in franchise history. That run is over now. Against Chicago, Melton lasted 4.1 innings, gave up nine hits and three earned runs, walked one and struck out four before turning it over to the bullpen.
Even with the rough outing, this wasn’t some collapse from a pitcher suddenly losing his way. It was Melton’s first start allowing three or more runs since June 9 against the Minnesota Twins. He still sits at a 1.71 ERA after the start, keeping his season numbers in elite territory.
Melton’s impact since his season debut against the Baltimore Orioles on the road has been hard to miss. He entered Saturday with a 1.46 ERA and had helped fuel a stretch in which Detroit won seven straight games when he started. After he gave up four runs to the Twins back in June, he bounced back by allowing just two runs combined across his next three starts while logging more than 18 innings.
The White Sox, though, had him figured out on this day. The source also points to Jake Rogers’ familiarity with Melton behind the plate in Rogers’ return to Detroit as a possible factor.
Now the Tigers have to regroup quickly. Drew Anderson is set to start the series finale on Sunday, with Detroit trying to salvage at least one win in the set and lock down a .500 homestand. If they don’t get it done, they’ll head to Pittsburgh with a 2-4 homestand instead of 3-3.
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