Riley Greene’s – Riley Greene launched a two-run homer in the first inning as the Tigers jumped on the Rangers at Globe Life Field, then Jack Flaherty took over with sharp command and 5 2/3 scoreless innings to guide Detroit to a 3-0 win. Greene is headed to his third straight
ARLINGTON — The ball left Riley Greene’s bat in the first inning, and it didn’t just travel. It changed the math of the night.
With the Tigers set to swing at Globe Life Field, Greene scorched a game-breaking two-run homer down the right-field line. Detroit never let the early lead slip, turning a jolt of offense into a clean 3-0 win over the Rangers.
A few hours later, Greene learned he will be going to his third consecutive Midsummer Classic. He didn’t sound surprised by the moment—more like he’d been chasing it. “I feel like once you make one [All-Star Game], you want to make all of them,” Greene said. “This is something, as a baseball player, someone who competes, you want to be in all of them. It’s awesome.”.
The timing of Saturday’s homer fit the pattern he’s been building. Greene has eight homers since June 1, and he has gone deep three times in his past four games. “Just being on time, getting good pitches to hit and finding barrels,” Greene said.
One pitch, one swing, and then the rest of the game could settle in around it. Greene drove in Kerry Carpenter, who had singled, after ripping a fly ball that was Statcast-projected to carry 386 feet down the right-field line at 107.7 mph.
From there. Jack Flaherty did what contenders ask of their starters: he protected the lead like it was his job description. He was as sharp as he’s been all season. allowing three earned runs or fewer for the 13th time in the past 17 starts. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his past seven outings.
On Saturday, Flaherty’s velocity ticked up on all his pitches, especially his secondary stuff. He struck out five hitters, walked none, and scattered three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
He tied that stretch to basics—command, mixing, and making hitters work. “We’re doing those small things a lot better. in terms of commanding the zone. ” Flaherty said of his recent success. “There were a lot of walks early on [in the season]. … Just being able to mix pitches and getting ahead of guys. trying to get some quicker outs and make them put the ball in play. because our defense has played really well.”.
The Tigers’ defense backed him when contact came. Flaherty allowed a few hard-hit balls. including Josh Smith’s 101.1 mph liner to right-center that center fielder James Outman sprinted to cover. Smith’s first-inning flyout would’ve been a homer in four MLB parks. per Statcast. with an expected batting average of .590. but Outman hustled to the deepest corner of the park to make a running catch.
Manager A.J. Hinch didn’t just credit the catch—he pointed to what Outman’s been bringing day after day. “[Outman] played great,” Hinch said. “And one of the reasons he’s been a mainstay in the lineup since he’s gotten here is because he brings defense and speed every day. and his pre-pitch is great … his angles are really good, and he completes plays. So when you do that, you get to stay in the lineup.”.
Flaherty’s night ended after Josh Jung’s two-out double in the sixth. Over his past seven outings, he has averaged an elite-level 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
In Arlington, the story started with Greene’s swing and stayed there long enough for Detroit to finish it. Greene’s first-inning homer gave the Tigers the lead, and Flaherty’s control kept it from ever getting close to slipping away.
Riley Greene Jack Flaherty Detroit Tigers Texas Rangers Globe Life Field Midsummer Classic All-Star Kerry Carpenter James Outman A.J. Hinch