Detroit trailed for four innings and then took over. The Tigers scored in three straight frames to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 victory over the White Sox at Comerica Park on Saturday, with Troy Melton anchoring the effort from the mound and Dillon Dingler providing the offensive punch.
Melton was sharp through six innings, allowing only 1 run on 1 hit while walking 3 and striking out 5 on 84 pitches. He carried a 2.56 ERA into the start and left with the lead secured. The right-hander received no decision, but the game belonged to him in tone and structure.
Sam Antonacci gave Chicago the early advantage with a home run to right center in the first inning, a 393-foot shot that put the White Sox ahead 1-0. Detroit answered in the fifth when Dillon Dingler singled to right, scoring McKinstry to tie the game at 1-1. The Tigers took the lead for good in the sixth: James Outman singled to right, Torkelson scored, and Outman reached second safely when right fielder B. Montgomery's throw went awry. Jake Rogers then singled to center to score Outman, pushing the lead to 3-1. Dingler added a solo home run to center in the seventh — 430 feet — to close the scoring at 4-1. He finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI on the night.
Sean Newcomb was effective in his three innings for Chicago, allowing no hits, no runs, and striking out 4. But the White Sox bullpen could not hold the line once Detroit's offense found its footing in the middle innings. Colson Montgomery went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts for Chicago.
Detroit improved to 31-44 with the win. Chicago fell to 39-35, dropping to 1-0 in the loss column after entering the game as the division's top club.