BALTIMORE (AP) — Dillon Dingler hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Troy Melton and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and the Detroit Tigers stopped an eight-game losing streak by beating the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 Sunday in a doubleheader nightcap.
Kevin McGonigle added a two-run single as the Tigers won for just the third time in 19 games and stopped their longest skid since August 2020. Detroit is just 8-21 on the road.
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Detroit Tigers starter Troy Melton (52) leaves the mound after a pitching substitution was made during the sixth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith celebrates after hitting a single during the eighth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Orioles' Blaze Alexander, right, reacts after striking out on a foul tip during the ninth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Detroit Tigers Dillon Dingler, second from right, celebrates with Kevin McGonigle (7) and Riley Greene (31) after hitting a two-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
In the opener, Colton Cowser hit a three-run homer off Kenley Jansen with two outs in the ninth inning that lifted Baltimore to a 5-3 victory.
Melton (1-0), making his season debut after recovering from right elbow inflammation, allowed two hits and Samuel Basallo's sacrifice fly in 5 2/3 innings. Tyler Holton got four outs and Drew Anderson six for his second save, striking out three straight batters after a pair of walks starting the ninth.
Trevor Rogers (2-6) lost his sixth straight start, giving up four runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. His ERA has climbed from 1.89 to 6.96 during that span.
Albert Suárez pitched four scoreless innings for the Orioles.
Tigers: RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 3.83) starts Tuesday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels, who send RHP Jack Kochanowicz (2-3, 4.55) to the mound.
Orioles: LHP Shane McClanahan (5-2, 2.82) starts Monday's series opener for visiting Tampa Bay.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Detroit Tigers starter Troy Melton (52) leaves the mound after a pitching substitution was made during the sixth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith celebrates after hitting a single during the eighth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Orioles' Blaze Alexander, right, reacts after striking out on a foul tip during the ninth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Detroit Tigers Dillon Dingler, second from right, celebrates with Kevin McGonigle (7) and Riley Greene (31) after hitting a two-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi headed into the World Cup break a bit earlier than planned, and now it'll be Argentina waiting to see if there's an injury to worry about.
Messi — who almost never gets subbed out of matches — left in the 73rd minute, meaning he was long gone before Luis Suárez's third goal of the night lifted the defending MLS champions past the last-place Philadelphia Union 6-4 on Sunday night.
Messi had two assists and Germán Berterame scored twice during a record-setting first half for Inter Miami. But Messi basically took himself out of play in the 71st minute and reached toward his left hamstring at least once, then didn't even venture toward the Inter Miami bench when he could be subbed out.
Messi was replaced by Mateo Silvetti, then left immediately through the tunnel connecting the field with the team’s locker room. Messi was walking under his own power, albeit slowly, and without any team medical personnel with him.
Rodrigo De Paul, on his birthday, scored in stoppage time to seal the win for Inter Miami.
Heavy rain began falling early in the second half, causing some players to seem to slip on the turf. It wasn't clear if Messi's departure was precautionary or not, and it didn't seem like he took any major missteps during the worst of the rain.
Messi has said in the past that he would only play in the World Cup if healthy. Argentina starts group stage play on June 16.
Milan Iloski had a first-half hat trick — including two penalty kicks — and Bruno Damiani also scored for Union, which was up 2-0 only 10 minutes into the match. That start set the stage for the teams to be tied at 4-4 at the half.
The eight goals by halftime was an MLS record, the league said.
"It's beautiful, it's fun to be a part of the game, it’s fun to sing a national anthem and obviously to see Messi and all these greats so close to me, it’s an honor," said Grammy-nominated singer and Miami resident Luis Fonsi, who performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” pregame. "I’m a fan and I’m enjoying every bit of it.”
He was asked what it's like to share the field with Messi.
“He’s a lot more known than me — times a million," Fonsi said.
Messi has already appeared in five World Cups, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player twice — first in 2014, then again in 2022 when he led Argentina to the title. That award has been given out only since 1982, but he is the lone player to win it twice.
Argentina is in Group J for the World Cup. Its group stage matches: Algeria, at Kansas City, on June 16; Austria, at Arlington, Texas, on June 22; and Jordan, back in Arlington, on June 27.
If Argentina wins that group — and the defending champions would be heavily favored to do so — then Messi would play a Round of 32 match in Miami Gardens on July 3. The only other way for Messi to play in South Florida during the tournament would be if Argentina is in the third-place match on July 18.
Of course, all that is contingent on whether Messi plays. And that would now seem to be in at least some question.
Inter Miami (9-2-4, 31 points) enters the break second in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville (10-1-3, 33 points). Inter Miami is also fourth in the Supporters’ Shield standings — a trophy that Philadelphia won last season.
The Union won’t be winning that this season. Not even close.
They’re at the bottom of the league, a stunning first-to-worst collapse and head into the break with seven points — at 1-10-4.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
Inter Miami forward Germán Berterame (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Philadelphia Union, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Philadelphia Union, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) drives downfield under pressure from Philadelphia Union midfielder Ben Bender (16) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake (18) deflects a corner kick from Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) comes under pressure from Philadelphia Union midfielder Jovan Lukic (4), midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6), and midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (21), during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
