Troy Melton has career-high nine strikeouts in Tigers' 6-1 win vs. Athletics

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Jul 8, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DETROIT — It’s been an emotional week already for the Tigers.

On Tuesday, the club and impactful third base coach Joey Cora suddenly, mutually, parted company.

Before the game Wednesday, Hall of Fame-bound Justin Verlander announced that this would be his final season. Not completely unexpected for the 43-year-old, but still a lot to process, for the organization, for his teammates and for the fan base.

Then, in the second inning, All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler had to leave the game after a pitch from starter Troy Melton caromed off his glove directly off his right hand.

And yet, between the lines, they were unfazed; all business.

The Tigers continued their mid-summer surge, beating the Athletics, 6-1, at Comerica Park. It was their fourth straight win, their fourth straight series win and their seventh win in the last eight games.

They are 20-12 since June 1.

“I don’t know if guys are playing with a sense of urgency,” Verlander said. “I don’t think that’s the right way to put it. Guys are clicking. Guys are healthy. Our rotation is doing what they’re supposed to do, feeding off one another and giving us a chance to win night in and night out.”

That was certainly the case Wednesday. Right-hander Troy Melton picked up where Tarik Skubal left off Tuesday. He struck out a career-best nine in 5 1/3 innings and was charged with one unearned run, lowering his ERA to 1.82.

Tigers starters have allowed four runs or less in 38 of the last 39 games.

Melton dominated the Athletics in the early innings with a wicked cutter. He was ripping it at 94 mph and used it on four of his nine strikeouts.

In the fifth inning, he struck out the side, dispatching Henry Bolte, Zack Gelof and, after a 12-pitch battle, Jeff McNeil, with 98-mph heaters.

And he stayed in control even after swapping out catchers in the second inning.

Melton threw a 95-mph sinker to Jacob Wilson with one out in the second inning. The ball glanced off Dingler’s glove right onto his right hand. He was in obvious pain and manager AJ Hinch and trainer Ryne Eubanks came out to examine him. After a few practice throws, Dingler was able to finish the inning.

But when his turn to bat came around in the bottom of the inning, Hinch sent up Jake Rogers to pinch hit. Rogers responded by clubbing a two-run homer to left to put the Tigers up 3-1.

There was no immediate announcement on the specifics of the injury.

Rogers and Kevin McGonigle singled with one out in the second inning, setting the table for Spencer Torkelson who sent a hanging slider from lefty Jeffrey Springs into the left-field seats for his 15th homer.

McGonigle, for the 54th time, reached base safely at least twice, extending his MLB rookie record before the All-Star break.

The Tigers (42-50) scored six runs for the third straight game.

Keider Montero (1 2/3 innings) and lefty Tyler Holton (1) and Beau Brieske (1) closed it out.

The Athletics played without All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz, who left in the second inning with an illness.