Greene's 2-HR, 6-RBI day leads Tigers in G1 rout over Nats

WASHINGTON -- Riley Greene’s scorching June has continued into July.

Greene blasted a pair of three-run shots Wednesday as the Tigers hit four homers in an 11-2 pasting of the Nationals in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Nationals Park.

Greene, who was named an All-Star for the second time and first as a starter Wednesday night, has collected 53 RBIs since May 1, and has homered in three consecutive games for the first time. Javier Báez -- who was also elected as an All-Star starter, along with Gleyber Torres -- has connected on a home run in three consecutive games as well this season, from April 30 to May 2.

The Tigers were unable to hold a 4-3 seventh inning lead in the nightcap and dropped a 9-4 decision to the Nationals to split the doubleheader, snapping a three-game win streak.

Why has Greene been so good to start this season?

"He's Riley Greene,” said manager A.J. Hinch. “There's these little bursts of huge performance like we've seen. There's very rare downturns. He's a guy who brings it every day. He wants to be good. He pushes himself to be good. He faces the toughest matchups in the biggest moments in the middle of our order and continues to get a good pitch to hit."

The 24-year-old has seven multi-homer games in his career and four this season, tying him for third with Juan Soto, Seiya Suzuki, Tyler Soderstrom and Corbin Carroll. His last multi-homer game was June 20 against Tampa Bay.

Cal Raleigh has six multi-homer games this season, and Aaron Judge has five. Greene’s 69 RBIs are second to Raleigh’s American League-leading 71.

Greene is also third behind Judge (1.188) and Raleigh (1.024) for the American League lead in OPS at .903.

"He's one of the better hitters in the league,” said Nationals starter Trevor Williams. “I thought he was doing a good job, even when we were moving the ball back and forth today, I thought he did a good job of staying on pitches. The home run ball he hit today was executed down and away, and the bat stayed through the zone for a long time and that's kind of what he does.”

Greene is batting .362 (38-for-105) with 17 extra-base hits, eight homers and 29 RBIs since June 1 (27 games).

Greene and Jake Rogers belted three-run homers in a six-run first frame as the Tigers' offense pounded out seven hits and sent 11 to the plate against Williams (3-10).

"It was huge,” Rogers said of the quick start. “Having a bullpen day like today, it was important for us to kind of get out in front. It's always the punch-first mentality kind of deal. That gives us a deep breath to [say], 'OK, let's attack the zone and go after these hitters'. I think our bullpen did a really good job of that."

Rogers' homer over the right-center-field wall was his first of the season and first since Aug. 27, 2024 against the Angels.

Zach McKinstry went 4-for-5 with a double, three singles and two runs scored. Spencer Torkelson crushed a homer to lead off the sixth, his 18th of the season.

"I am pretty much president of the Zach McKinstry fan club,” Hinch said. “I love this guy. I play him all the time. I trust him. He's really good defensively and he's a really tough at-bat. He's arguably our best baserunner. I think he can help us win, which is why I keep putting him in there.”

Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tyler Owens and Dylan Smith combined for the win, allowing two runs, scattering nine hits and striking out eight.

After Game 1, Detroit was 54-32 (.628), 22 games above .500 for the first time this season, its best record after 86 games since 2006 (58-28). The last time the Tigers were at least 22 games above .500 was 93-69 in 2013.