The Detroit Tigers’ victory on Friday night demonstrated why they are 21-12 and have a 2.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. Detroit completed a remarkable offensive performance not seen in more than 70 years by shocking the Los Angeles Angels 9-1 with eight runs in a spectacular ninth-inning outburst.
The Tigers entered elite company, led by outfielder Riley Green, who hit two home runs in the ninth inning alone. They joined the 1950 Boston Braves and the 1921 Pittsburgh Pirates as the only other teams since 1900 to score eight or more runs in the eighth inning or later in back-to-back games without extra innings, according to Elias Sports.
Green led off the ninth inning with a single home run off of Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen, who hadn’t surrendered a run all season. However, Jansen immediately lost his form in his first appearance in eight days, giving up six runs on six hits before being yanked. Green became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit two home runs in the ninth inning of a single game when he finished the inning off a second homer, this time off Jake Elder.
Green wasn’t the end of the fireworks. Rookie Colt Keith fired a single drive of his own, and Javier Báez followed with a two-run homer, helping to fuel the Tigers’ eight-run period. A Detroit lineup that attacked from every side left the Angels bullpen helpless and bewildered.
Tarik Skubal quietly maintained his winning streak as the offense made headlines. In six innings of one-run ball, the defending AL Cy Young champion struck out eight batters and walked just one. Early on, his aggressive presence was felt when he and Zach Neto had a verbal altercation following a high-octane strikeout in the third inning. Although it left both benches empty, there were no ejections.
With Detroit producing both power at the plate and finesse on the mound, this is a squad that’s no longer creeping up on anyone. The Tigers are demonstrating that they have the talent to not just compete in the division but also in October, led by standout pitcher Tarik Skubal and up-and-coming players Riley Green and Spencer Torkelson.
