Photo: Lon Horwedel ~ Imagn Images
DETROIT, July 29, 2025 ~ The Detroit Tigers kicked off their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a strong 5–1 win Monday night at Comerica Park, and rookie Troy Melton was the story of the night.
Making just his second big-league start, the 24-year-old righty looked like a seasoned vet, tossing seven shutout innings without issuing a walk. He scattered five hits, struck out five, and kept Arizona off balance all night. It was a big moment for Melton, who picked up his first MLB win, and gave Detroit just the spark it needed as the team keeps pushing through a tight and competitive AL Central race. With the win, the Tigers improved to 62–46 on the season.
Offensively, the Tigers were led by Spencer Torkelson, Dillon Dingler, and Andy Ibáñez. Torkelson drove in a run with one of his two hits, while Dingler had a standout night behind the plate, going 3 for 4 with a solo home run off former Tiger Eduardo Rodríguez. Ibáñez also chipped in with two hits, including a home run and a double. Detroit collected 10 hits in total, showing a balanced attack that kept Rodríguez on the ropes throughout his six-inning outing.
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(CONTINUED) Arizona’s lone bright spot came in the eighth inning when Alek Thomas launched a solo home run to right field, breaking up the shutout. But the Diamondbacks couldn’t get much else going, finishing 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position and leaving five men on base. The loss dropped them to 51–56 on the season.
The Tigers handed things over to the bullpen after Melton’s seven strong innings, and the relievers kept things steady the rest of the way. Will Vest came on to close it out in the ninth, working a clean inning to wrap up the win. With the victory, Detroit keeps building momentum in a tight division race. Game 2 of the series is set for 6:40 at Comerica Park.
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