Tigers ride Melton's solid season debut to win nightcap of doubleheader
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BALTIMORE -- Troy Melton’s return from the injured list came not a moment too soon for the Tigers.
Melton (1-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings of two-hit, one-run ball in his season debut, and the Tigers defeated the Orioles 4-1 on Sunday evening to snap an eight-game losing streak and salvage the back end of a split doubleheader at Camden Yards.
Dillon Dingler clubbed his 10th home run to stake Detroit to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and Kevin McGonigle’s fifth-inning single plated two runs and chased Orioles starter Trevor Rogers.
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And after a crushing collapse in Sunday’s early 5-3 loss, capped by the third walk-off home run allowed by Kenley Jansen this season, this time the bullpen held. Tyler Holton backed up Melton with 1 1/3 innings, and Drew Anderson worked two innings for his second save.
That was enough for the Tigers to avoid their first nine-game slide since June 2-11, 2023. Detroit still extended another dubious run in its 11th consecutive game with seven hits or fewer, extending a franchise record that was set in the early game.