Detroit’s rotation depth faces fresh uncertainty after a premature exit at Rate Field, where missed opportunities and a power surge by Chicago doomed the reeling Tigers.
The Tigers' series against the Chicago White Sox ended Sunday with another loss and another injury concern for the pitching staff.
Troy Melton left in the fourth inning with an apparent injury as the Tigers lost 8-1 at Rate Field, dropping to 73-83 and 10 games under .500.
Melton worked around traffic early before Chicago got on the board in the second. Chase Meidroth reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored when Braden Montgomery doubled into right field. Melton limited the inning to one run and followed with a scoreless third that included strikeouts of Munetaka Murakami and Andrew Benintendi.The fourth inning was his last.
Colson Montgomery walked to open the inning before Melton retired Meidroth and Braden Montgomery. Brenton Doyle then reached on an infield single and Sam Antonacci followed with a two-run double to right, extending Chicago's lead to 3-0. Melton was visited on the mound following the play and left the game with an injury. Tyler Holton entered and Kyle Teel singled home Antonacci for Chicago's fourth run.
Melton finished with 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Detroit had opportunities against Davis Martin but did not score against the White Sox starter. Eduardo Valencia singled twice in his first two plate appearances, and the Tigers put two runners aboard in the fourth before Spencer Torkelson struck out to end the inning.
Their best chance came in the fifth. Brett Callahan singled before Kevin McGonigle and Gleyber Torres drew walks, loading the bases with one out. Hagen Smith came out of the Chicago bullpen and struck out Hao-Yu Lee before Riley Greene grounded out, leaving all three runners aboard.
Chicago added two more runs against Ty Madden in the bottom half. Colson Montgomery singled and Meidroth followed with his 15th home run of the season, pushing the White Sox lead to 6-0.
The Tigers finally scored in the eighth. Greene doubled to right and Valencia collected his third hit of the afternoon with a single to center. Max Clark brought Greene home with a sacrifice fly, giving Clark another RBI during his late-season look in the major leagues.
Chicago added two runs against Brant Hurter in the bottom of the eighth on a bases-loaded walk to Murakami and a sacrifice fly from Randal Grichuk. Detroit went down in order in the ninth.
Valencia finished 3-for-4 and accounted for half of Detroit's six hits. Greene and Torkelson each doubled, while Callahan added a single. The Tigers left several scoring opportunities unused, including the bases-loaded situation in the fifth.
Detroit now returns home at 73-83 to open a series against Washington on Monday. River Ryan is scheduled to make his Tigers debut against the Nationals.
