ANAHEIM, Calif. — Riley Greene launched a powerful start to the ninth inning with a home run and wrapped up a formidable eight-run surge with a three-run homer, propelling the Detroit Tigers to a decisive 9-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
Colt Keith contributed with a solo home run, and Javier Báez delivered a two-run drive, both against Angels closer Kenley Jansen. Jansen began the season impressively with eight scoreless innings but struggled, pitching for the first time in eight days.
In an extraordinary feat, Greene smashed his three-run homer off left-hander Jake Eder, becoming the first Tigers player to hit two homers in a single inning since Magglio Ordonez achieved this against the Oakland Athletics on August 12, 2007. Moreover, Greene made history as the first major league player to connect two homers in the ninth inning.
Securing the win was Tyler Holton (2-2), who managed a scoreless eighth inning.
However, it was a rough outing for Jansen (0-1), who allowed six runs and six hits in the ninth inning, culminating in a seventh straight loss for the Angels and their 15th in the last 19 games.
Angels shortstop Zach Neto made an impressive start, hitting a home run on the first pitch thrown by Detroit’s left-hander Tarik Skubal, marking his fourth of the season. The Tigers leveled the score at 1-1 in the seventh when Trey Sweeney parked a homer off reliever Ryan Johnson.
Jose Soriano, the Angels’ starting pitcher, managed six hits over six innings, striking out five while issuing just one walk. Skubal, who holds the title of reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, delivered a strong performance, allowing one run and four hits over six innings, striking out eight and also walking one.
The game was not without tempers flaring when Neto and Skubal exchanged sharp words after Skubal struck out Neto with a speedy 99-mph fastball in the third inning. This led to both benches clearing, although no punches were exchanged.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred in the fifth inning when Travis d’Arnaud opened with a single, marking the last baserunner for the Angels. Skubal, along with relievers Chase Lee, Holton, and Tyler Owens, finished by retiring the final 15 batters, eight through strikeouts.
A notable statistic from the game is the Angels’ continued streak of safely hitting in 4,000 consecutive regular-season games, a streak extending since being no-hit by Minnesota Twins pitcher Eric Milton on September 11, 1999. This holds as the longest active streak without being no-hit in the major leagues.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will send right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-3, 3.34 ERA) to the mound against the Angels’ right-hander Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 6.65 ERA) on Saturday.