The Chicago White Sox hung on for a tight 4-3 win on Saturday, but for the Detroit Tigers, it was another tough outing for Troy Melton and a continued saga of struggles for their biggest hitters. It was a close battle, with the Tigers having chances, but the batted ball luck just wasn’t falling their way, cementing the White Sox victory at Comerica Park.
Melton Couldn’t Get Ahead Early
Things kicked off on a rough note for Troy Melton right from the jump, and he never really settled in. Sam Antonacci jumped on a first-pitch heater, sending it screaming for a double to kick things off. Munetaka Murakami then drew a walk, putting Melton on the ropes immediately. He battled back with a strikeout of Miguel Vargas and a fly out from Andrew Benintendi, but Braden Montgomery singled through the right side, bringing Antonacci home. Melton did manage to strike out Colson Montgomery to end the first, but the damage was done. The Tigers, facing lefty Anthony Kay, answered back in the bottom half. Hao-Yu Lee walked, Kevin McGonigle walked, and Eduardo Valencia singled into center, scoring Lee to tie it up 1-1 before Spencer Torkelson struck out.
The second inning wasn’t much better for Melton, who just couldn’t find those crucial first-pitch strikes. Chase Meidroth and Tristan Peters led off with back-to-back singles. Yikes. Then, Jake Rogers stepped in and grounded into a rare 1-5-4 double play, which was a huge sigh of relief, followed by Melton whiffing Antonacci with a nasty curveball. Kay, though, breezed through the bottom of the second, getting Ben Malgeri, Javier Báez, and freezing Corey Julks for strike three after a successful challenge.
Big Bats Stay Quiet While White Sox Pull Ahead
The White Sox kept coming in the third. Murakami absolutely crushed an 0-1 slider for a leadoff double up the left-center gap. Vargas grounded out, and Benintendi chopped an infield single. Braden Montgomery grounded one to Torkelson, who made a clutch throw home to Valencia, getting Murakami at the plate, but Benintendi and Montgomery aggressively took second and third. With an out desperately needed, Melton instead gave up a double to Colson Montgomery, scoring both runners and putting the White Sox up 3-1.
The Tigers’ offense, unfortunately, remained mostly quiet. Gleyber Torres lined a single to right in the bottom of the third, but then Lee struck out, Dillon Dingler flew out, and Kevin McGonigle grounded out. Melton did manage to stop a potential rally in the fourth after Peters led off with another single, getting the next three batters in order. But it was Eduardo Valencia who finally sparked something for the Tigers’ offense, launching a 2-2 changeup from Kay into the Tigers bullpen for his sixth home run of the season, making it a 3-2 game. Despite Valencia’s blast, the Tigers’ big bats struggled to string anything together, with the White Sox holding on for the 4-3 victory.
The White Sox are now hunting a sweep on Sunday. The Tigers desperately need their big bats to wake up and Melton to find his rhythm if they want to avoid getting swept. It’s time to turn things around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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