In a standout moment for the Detroit Tigers, outfielder Riley Green made waves during a recent game against the Los Angeles Angels, leading the Tigers to a notable 9-1 victory. This 24-year-old player etched his name in the record books by becoming the first in MLB history to hit two home runs in a single ninth inning.
Green’s first homer came off a cutter from Kenley Jansen, soaring 371 feet into right field, which propelled the Tigers to a brief 2-1 lead. Not long after, Colt Keith followed with another homer, extending the lead to 3-1. The Tigers’ momentum kept building, as Javier Baez added two more runs, pushing the score to 5-1.
The team didn’t stop there. With a 6-1 lead, Green stepped up to the plate again, this time facing Jake Edder, who had replaced Jansen. And, well, history repeated itself. Green sent Edder’s pitch flying for a three-run homer that landed 409 feet away in right-center field, boosting the score to 9-1. Interestingly, Green didn’t realize the significance of his achievement at first.
“Yeah, I just found out—cool, I guess,” he remarked after the game. “But the game is over. I’m here to win more.”
Remarkably, Green’s accomplishment marked the first time a Tigers player hit two homers in a ninth inning since Magglio Ordóñez did so in 2007. As for this season, Green has been holding his own with a .262 batting average, six home runs, and 16 RBIs across 31 games.
Looking ahead, the American League-leading Tigers (21-12) are set to take the field again on Saturday at 9:38 PM.
