Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Melton loses perfect bid as Imai's 10-K lifts Astros

6/26/2026

50 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Tigers starter Troy Melton retired the first 16 batters before a solo home run broke up his perfect-game bid.
Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai struck out ten, threw 63 strikes in six innings and beat the Tigers 2-1, keeping the club within two games of the AL West lead.
Tigers fell to a three-game losing streak, 34-47 overall, as Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler hit his 19th home run in the ninth.

History

Historical Context

Armando Galarraga’s June 2 2010 near-perfect game, lost on umpire Jim Joyce’s mistaken safe call after 26 outs, sparked league-wide debate that led Commissioner Bud Selig to expand instant-replay review. The incident occurred amid a 2010 “Year of the Pitcher” that produced six no-hitters, including two perfect games, shaping how today’s near-perfect bids, like Troy Melton’s, are judged.

1 of 2

Story summary

Tigers starter Troy Melton retired the first 16 batters before a solo home run broke up his perfect-game bid.
Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai struck out ten, threw 63 strikes in six innings and beat the Tigers 2-1, keeping the club within two games of the AL West lead.
Tigers fell to a three-game losing streak, 34-47 overall, as Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler hit his 19th home run in the ninth.

1 / 2