Riley Greene makes history with two ninth-inning homers for Tigers

On May 2, 2025, in Anaheim, California, the Detroit Tigers secured a decisive 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. This game marked a notable achievement for Tigers' slugger Riley Greene as he hit two home runs in the ninth inning, making him the first player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to accomplish this feat during a single inning. Greene's remarkable performance began with a leadoff homer against Angels' closer Kenley Jansen, followed by a three-run shot later in the inning that contributed to an impressive eight-run outburst by the Tigers. The Tigers managed to tie the game at 1-1 in the seventh inning when Trey Sweeney homered off reliever Ryan Johnson. Greene's first homer in the ninth was a 371-foot shot that hit the top of the right-field wall, propelling the Tigers into the lead. Following Greene's initial blast, Colt Keith added a solo homer, and Javier Báez hit a two-run shot, further extending the Tigers' advantage. The power display came as the Tigers faced a struggling Jansen, who had opened the season with eight scoreless innings but suffered significantly in his first outing in eight days. Riley Greene's historic accomplishment was underscored by the fact that he is the first player since Magglio Ordonez, who homered twice in an inning in 2007, to achieve such a milestone for the Tigers. Greene's second homer was a 409-foot shot off left-hander Jake Eder that capped the scoring for the game, emphasizing the Tigers' dominance and effectiveness at the plate late in the game. Greene's performance not only highlights his growing talent but also showcases the Tigers’ potent lineup, as they now hold an American League-best record of 21-12. This victory was part of a recent trend for the Tigers, who have increasingly demonstrated resilience and a strong offensive performance in late innings. In the previous game, they also scored eight runs in the eighth and ninth innings against the Angels. Despite their struggles, the Angels continue to maintain a record of having hit safely in 4,000 consecutive regular-season games since a no-hitter in 1999, the longest active streak in the majors. The Angels, on a downward trajectory, have now lost seven straight games, raising questions about their performance in upcoming matchups.