Riley Greene Makes MLB History with Two Home Runs in Ninth Inning

Fans cheer in excitement during a historic baseball game at Angel Stadium.

News Summary

Riley Greene made MLB history by hitting two home runs in the ninth inning, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Greene’s performance, including a leadoff home run and a three-run shot, was pivotal in the Tigers’ eight-run surge that resulted in the team recording four home runs in a single ninth inning for the first time. This win improved the Tigers’ record, while the Angels faced their seventh consecutive loss.

ANAHEIM, California — Riley Greene made Major League Baseball history on May 2, 2025, by hitting two home runs in the ninth inning of a game, becoming the first player to achieve this remarkable feat. His outstanding performance led the Detroit Tigers to a decisive 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.

Greene started the inning with a leadoff home run that sailed 371 feet off Angels’ closer Kenley Jansen. He followed up with a three-run homer, traveling an impressive 409 feet off left-hander Jake Eder, marking an incredible offensive surge for the Tigers. Greene’s contributions were part of an eight-run offensive onslaught, with the team recording seven hits in just the ninth inning.

This game was Greene’s second two-home run outing in merely five days, as he had also accomplished this against the Houston Astros just last week. The Tigers’ offensive explosion was not limited to Greene alone; Colt Keith added a solo home run, and Javier Báez chipped in with a two-run shot, extending his streak to three consecutive games with a home run. Notably, Greene became the first Detroit player to hit two home runs in one inning since Magglio Ordonez on August 12, 2007, joining a distinguished group of only three Tigers, including Hall of Famer Al Kaline.

The Tigers also made franchise history by becoming the first team to hit four home runs in a single ninth inning. This feat had not been accomplished by any Major League team since the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006. The win improved the Tigers’ record to 21-12 this season, solidifying their status as one of the leading teams in the American League.

The game’s circumstances were particularly grim for the Angels, who faced their seventh consecutive loss and have now dropped 15 of their last 19 games. The Tigers scored five runs in the eighth inning and combined with their ninth-inning surge, pulled off an impressive eight-run total in the last two innings against the Angels.

On the mound, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, demonstrated his dominance by pitching six innings, allowing just one run and striking out eight batters. Skubal’s performance is contributing to the team’s success as they strive to maintain their current winning record.

Before this historic game, Greene struggled significantly at the plate, enduring a one-for-32 slump over nine games, which makes his remarkable revival even more significant. His ability to perform under pressure highlights his potential as a key player for the Tigers moving forward.

This moment not only marks a defining achievement in Riley Greene’s career but also showcases the Tigers’ strengths as a team, ready to capitalize on their recent success and aim for greater accomplishments as the MLB season progresses.