This article is presented by Antonio’s Italian Cucina

On a crisp early May evening in 2025, Riley Greene didn’t just help the Detroit Tigers clinch a win—he carved his name into Major League Baseball history. Greene became the first player ever to hit two home runs in the ninth inning of a single game, sparking an electrifying eight-run rally that sealed a 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

The Electric Ninth

With the score tied 1-1 at Angel Stadium, the Tigers needed a hero—and Greene answered the call spectacularly. Facing veteran closer Kenley Jansen, Greene crushed a solo home run to right field, breaking the tie. Later, as the Tigers built momentum, Greene stepped up again against Jake Eder, launching a towering three-run homer to center field that capped the inning’s offensive explosion.

This standout performance made Greene the 67th player in MLB history to hit two home runs in a single inning—but notably, he’s the first ever to do so in the ninth inning, cementing a moment that’s now etched permanently in Tigers lore.

How Rare Is This Feat?

The data tells a clear story: hitting two home runs in one inning is extraordinarily uncommon, having been achieved only 67 times since Charley Jones first did it back in 1880. Icons like Fernando Tatís Sr., who famously hit two grand slams in one inning in 1999, highlight just how special Greene’s achievement truly is. Another crazy find from this analysis is that the Seattle Mariners had 2 players (Mike Cameron & Bret Boone) achieve this in same inning to kick off a game against the Chicago White Sox on May 2nd, (weirdly enough) 2002. Check out their domination here. To highlight how rare this is the top 4 home run hitters in history (Bonds, Aaron, Ruth and Pujols) don’t have this achieve.

Tigers History in the Making

Greene joins Detroit greats like Al Kaline and Magglio Ordonez, adding his name to a short but distinguished list of Tigers who’ve hit two homers in an inning. His feat underscores the unpredictable magic of baseball, delivering excitement that Tigers fans won’t soon forget.

Dive Deeper into the Data

Explore Greene’s historic ninth inning and learn who else is in the elite group of 62 different batters.

Reliving the Moment

Don’t just take our word for it—watch the excitement unfold yourself:

Riley Greene’s Two Home Runs in the 9th Inning 

Let’s hope Riley can stay hot and week can keep this early season momentum going. Eat ’em up!!