Riley Greene’s two three-run homers set the tone for a dominant Detroit Tigers win over the Washington Nationals, as the team posted an 11-2 victory in the first game of their day-night doubleheader on Wednesday. The Tigers’ powerful start, highlighted by early offensive bursts, shaped the outcome at the Nationals’ home field.
Detroit’s Offense Ignites with Early Power
The Tigers came out swinging, putting six runs on the board in the first inning against Trevor Williams. Colt Keith opened the frame with a double, followed by a walk to Gleyber Torres. Wenceel Perez flied out, then Riley Greene launched his first three-run homer of the contest on a 3-2 count, giving Detroit a quick 3-0 lead. Spencer Torkelson singled and Zach McKinstry doubled, setting up Parker Meadows who struck out, but Jake Rogers followed by drilling Detroit’s second three-run shot of the inning.
Jake Rogers and Spencer Torkelson both contributed home runs, deepening the Nationals’ deficit. Trey Sweeney’s sacrifice fly in the third added another run, stretching the lead to 7-0. In the fourth, Torres drew a walk, Perez singled, and Greene hit his second three-run homer to center field off Jackson Rutledge, taking the Tigers to a commanding 10-0 advantage.
Pitching Carries Tigers Through Strong Start
Detroit’s pitching remained solid throughout the game. Opener Tyler Holton pitched two scoreless innings, and Dylan Smith followed by throwing 3 1/3 shutout innings on two hits to earn the win, bringing his record to 1-0. The Tigers limited Washington’s opportunities with runners on base, keeping the Nationals to just two hits through much of the contest.
Nationals Struggle Despite Individual Performances
Washington battled but found few opportunities for runs. Alex Call collected three hits, and in the fifth inning, CJ Abrams reached on a single and advanced on an error before scoring on a base hit by James Wood. In the sixth, Call again contributed with a leadoff single, later coming home when Josh Bell drew a bases-loaded walk. Despite these moments, the Nationals completed the game just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Trevor Williams struggled on the mound, giving up seven runs on nine hits across three innings, raising his ERA to 6.21. Rookie pitcher Andry Lara, making his Major League debut, showed promise by retiring nine of the ten batters he faced. Paul DeJong returned to the Nationals lineup after suffering a facial injury in April, finishing with a walk in one plate appearance.
Tigers Notch a Confidence-Boosting Win
With this victory, the Tigers have secured wins in four of their past five games, moving forward with increased momentum as the season progresses. Riley Greene’s two three-run homers not only continued his streak of home runs in three consecutive games, totaling 21 this season, but also further established him as a leading force in the Detroit lineup. The emphatic win in the doubleheader opener sets an optimistic tone for the Tigers as they look to build on their recent successes in upcoming matchups.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Riley Greene?
A. In 2023, Greene appeared in 99 games for the Detroit team. He had a batting average of .288, an on-base percentage of .349, and a slugging percentage of .447. Greene hit 11 home runs, drove in 37 runs, and stole 7 bases that season.
On September 2, 2023, Greene went on the injured list because of inflammation in his right elbow. Later, on September 19, the team said he would have surgery on his non-throwing elbow.
Q. Where is Riley Greene today?
A. In the end, Riley could not fight off the fungal infection and passed away. On the other hand, Ellie survived and discovered that she was immune. After this, Ellie went to find Marlene.