Riley Greene's big day sends Tigers to series win over Rangers

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Jul 5, 2026

Published in Baseball

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Riley Greene didn’t need to validate his third straight All-Star selection. Each one of those was earned and undisputed.

But, what the heck, he put his stamp on it, just the same.

Greene, the second Tigers outfielder to earn three straight All-Star nods (Al Kaline was the other), had three hits and four RBIs and made a sensational diving catch in left field Sunday to power Detroit to a series-claiming 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.

"That's my goal every day," Greene said in a postgame interview on Peacock. "To show up and help the team win in any way I can."

The Tigers (40-50) went 5-1 on this two-city trip and, as they try to grind their way back into playoff contention, are 18-12 since June 1.

Greene’s 431-foot blast to the second deck in right-center field in the fourth inning off Rangers starter Kumar Rocker, his 13th, put the Tigers up 2-1 and they never looked back.

They chased Rocker and broke the game open with four runs in the fifth. Dillon Dingler, also named to the All-Star team, singled in a run in that inning and Greene delivered the big blow, a two-run, opposite-field, triple off lefty reliever Robby Ahlstrom.

Greene had two chances to get a double and complete the cycle. He flew out in the seventh and was intentionally walked in the ninth.

Rookie Kevin McGonigle, the third member of the Tigers’ All-Star contingent, had a pair of singles, a walk and scored a run.

Right-hander Casey Mize, who was not named to the initial pitching staff for the American League despite coming into the start with a 2.63 ERA, posted another quality start, limited the Rangers to the two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

He also got a big lift from the Tigers’ defense.

Greene stole extra bases from Brandon Nimmo with an amazing diving catch on a line drive into the left-center gap that left the bat at 107 mph. The play came right after Jake Burger hit a 477-foot solo homer off Mize, shutting off any potential momentum surge by the Rangers.

McGonigle, while playing shortstop, and Hao-Yu Lee, both made diving plays to steal hits.

Kenley Jansen, baseball's active saves leader, worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save this season (486th in his career).

The Tigers, after an off day Monday, will play two home series before the All-Star break, first against the Athletics starting Tuesday and then against the Phillies.

"We get to go home play in front of (our fans in) Detroit and ride this momentum all the way," Greene said.

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