On what was supposed to be a night on the bench, Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers unexpectedly had to step up and deliver Wednesday, July 8.
The Tigers’ backup catcher had to spring to action in the bottom of the second inning after All-Star Dillon Dingler exited with an apparent right-hand injury.
Rogers quickly turned on a 91 mph fastball from Athletics starters Jeffrey Springs for a two-run home run, his second of the season.
The Tigers added three more insurance runs on a three-run blast from first baseman Spencer Torkelson in the fifth inning. The two long balls were more than enough run support in a strong start from right-hander Troy Melton for a 6-1 win at Comerica Park.
Melton gave up one unearned run with nine strikeouts and one walk issued across 5⅓ innings. He is 5-1 and lowered his season ERA to 1.82.
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In securing a series victory over the Athletics (41-51), the Tigers (42-50) have now won seven of eight and four in a row. They are 20-12 since the start of June, the best record in the American League.
On the mound
Melton was in control from the opening pitch.
He settled in with a quick five-pitch first inning, and followed it up by stranding runners at the corners in the second. The only trouble came in the fourth inning, when the a leadoff double by Tyler Soderstrom turned into a run on a Zach McKinstry throwing error.
Melton struck out the side in the fifth inning and picked up one more out in the sixth before giving way to Keider Montero.
Melton threw were a fastball variant on 69 of 91 pitches (75.8%). He tossed 30 4-seam fastballs, 29 cut fastballs and 10 sinking fastballs, resulting in 11 of the 15 whiffs he generated. The other four came from his slider.
Melton, 25, has now had four straight starts with one earned run allowed or fewer. He has only surrendered multiple runs in two of his starts, with the Tigers at 6-2 when he starts.
Montero stranded his inherited runner and then pitched around traffic for a clean seventh.
Montero has now pitched 6⅔ innings of scoreless relief in three outings since the Tigers moved him to the bullpen following Jack Flaherty’s return at the end of June.
The team is continuing to enjoy the fruits of a healthy pitching staff during the hot stretch over the past week.
“Keider is doing a tremendous job in this hybrid role,” manager A.J. Hinch said pregame. “Obviously, Justin [Verlander] is still hurt but we feel really good every day when we roll out, play the opponent, that our starting pitcher is a good tone setter, a good strike thrower and somebody that we feel can get us to the right part of the game.”
Lefty Tyler Holton and righty Beau Brieske combined to pitch clean eighth and ninth innings to close the game.
At the plate
The Tigers made Springs’ life miserable in a long first inning. They loaded the bases with a single and two walks, setting up an RBI single from All-Star left fielder Riley Greene in a left-on-left situation.
Rogers hit his second home run of the season in the second to extend the Tigers’ lead to 3-0. Rogers finished 2-for-2 from the plate, plus a walk, after his abrupt pinch-hitting appearance.
His second hit was a one-out single in the fifth inning. All-Star rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle followed with a single. Torkelson then sent a hanging slider from Springs into the seats for his 15th home run of the season.
The Tigers finished with seven hits and six drawn walks, resulting in six runs.
Up next
The Tigers’ series finale against the Athletics is Thursday night at 6:40 p.m. at Comerica Park. Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez (4-6, 4.29 ERA) and Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins (2-4, 6.75 ERA) are the probable pitchers.
Contact Jared Ramsey at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Troy Melton deals, Jake Rogers homers off bench for streaking Tigers
Reporting by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
