Greene Ignites Tigers’ Commanding 9–3 Comeback Win To Force Decisive Game Five

The Detroit Tigers refused to go quietly into the October night, exploding for nine unanswered runs to stun the Seattle Mariners 9-3 in Game 4 of their American League Division Series at Comerica Park on Wednesday. Riley Greene’s leadoff home run in the sixth inning gave Detroit its first lead of the game, sparking an offensive explosion that silenced early boos from the home crowd and sent 41,083 fans into a frenzy.

The victory forces a decisive Game 5 in Seattle on Friday, keeping Detroit’s magical postseason run alive for at least one more game. The series now shifts back to T-Mobile Park for Friday’s winner-take-all showdown, with Detroit’s Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal facing Seattle’s George Kirby in what promises to be an epic pitching duel. The winner advances to face either the Toronto Blue Jays or New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series beginning Sunday.

Key Takeaways:  Riley Greene HR Key to the Win 

The biggest moments from the Tigers’ win over Seattle:

• The Tigers’ offensive awakening came at the perfect moment after managing just four runs through the first three games of the series. Detroit had been held scoreless by Mariners starter Bryce Miller through four innings before Dillon Dingler’s RBI double in the fifth. The floodgates opened from there, with the Tigers collecting 12 hits and drawing five walks in a complete turnaround from their previous struggles.
• Manager A.J. Hinch’s aggressive bullpen management proved crucial despite some early struggles. After removing starter Casey Mize following three innings, Hinch’s decision to bring in closer Kyle Finnegan in the fourth inning with the bases loaded limited what could have been a much larger Seattle lead. “It’s all hands on deck,” Hinch said before the game, and his willingness to use his best relievers in high-leverage situations regardless of the inning kept Detroit within striking distance.
• Troy Melton emerged as an unlikely hero, earning the victory with three scoreless innings of relief after struggling as Detroit’s Game 1 starter. The right-hander struck out four batters and allowed just two hits, providing the stability the Tigers needed once they grabbed the lead. His performance exemplified Detroit’s next-man-up mentality that has defined their improbable postseason run.
• Greene’s momentum-shifting home run traveled 454 feet with an exit velocity of 111.9 mph, marking his second homer of the postseason. Greene, the 23-year-old outfielder, has been Detroit’s most consistent offensive threat throughout October, and his clutch hitting continues to showcase why he’s considered the cornerstone of the franchise’s future. Greene’s leadoff blast in the sixth inning completely changed the complexion of the game and the series.
• Javier Báez delivered his biggest postseason moment as a Tiger with a towering two-run homer in the sixth that essentially put the game away. The veteran infielder, who has faced criticism for his large contract and inconsistent play, silenced doubters by driving in four runs total and providing the veteran leadership Detroit needed in its biggest game of the season. His stolen base and clutch hitting in the fifth inning helped set up the tying run before his decisive blast in the sixth.
• The Mariners’ bullpen collapse continued a troubling trend from their late-season struggles. Seattle relievers Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo combined to allow six runs without recording an out in the sixth inning, turning a manageable 3-0 lead into a crushing deficit. The Mariners entered the series with questions about their relief corps, and those concerns proved prophetic in their most important game.
• Detroit’s home crowd played a pivotal role in the comeback, transforming from frustrated boos in the early innings to thunderous support once the rally began.  The energy became palpable as each Tiger’s run crossed the plate.

Scoring Summary for Game 4 

The following is the scoring summary: 

• Seattle struck first in the second inning when Josh Naylor doubled to right field and scored on Dominic Canzone’s two-out RBI single, giving the Mariners a 1-0 advantage. The early lead seemed to validate Seattle’s aggressive approach against Tigers starter Casey Mize, who had struck out six batters through three innings but required 54 pitches to do so.
• The Mariners extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning after a series of Detroit pitching changes backfired. Tyler Holton replaced Mize to start the fourth but immediately ran into trouble when Naylor reached on an infield single that deflected off Holton’s glove. After Holton loaded the bases without recording an out, Kyle Finnegan entered and limited the damage by inducing a run-scoring double play from Victor Robles, with Naylor crossing home plate to make it 2-0.
• Seattle pushed their advantage to 3-0 in the fifth inning when Randy Arozarena led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Cal Raleigh’s RBI single. The hit was Raleigh’s seventh of the series, continuing his torrid postseason pace and seemingly putting the Tigers in a commanding hole with Miller still dealing on the mound.
• Detroit finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth when Dingler’s RBI double scored Zach McKinstry, cutting the deficit to 3-1. The hit ended Miller’s scoreless streak and opened the door for the Tigers’ comeback. Jahmai Jones immediately followed with a pinch-hit double off reliever Gabe Speier, driving in Dingler to make it 3-2. Javier Báez then delivered the tying hit with a single up the middle, knotting the game at 3-3 and sending Comerica Park into a frenzy.
• The Tigers seized control with four runs in the sixth inning, beginning with Greene’s mammoth solo homer that gave Detroit their first lead at 4-3. Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored on McKinstry’s RBI single for a 5-3 advantage before Báez crushed a two-run homer off Eduard Bazardo, extending the lead to 7-3. The four-run explosion transformed the atmosphere completely and effectively ended Seattle’s season.
• Detroit added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings to seal the victory. Gleyber Torres led off the seventh with a solo homer, his first of the postseason, pushing the lead to 8-3. Báez capped his stellar performance with an RBI groundout in the eighth, giving the Tigers a commanding 9-3 advantage and setting up Friday’s decisive showdown.

Winner-Take-All Game 5 is Friday

The series now returns to Seattle for a winner-take-all Game 5 on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox. The Mariners regain home-field advantage but face the daunting task of solving Skubal, Detroit’s ace, who came away with a no-decision in Game 2.

This marks the first time since 2012 that the Tigers have forced a decisive Game 5 in a playoff series, and the momentum from Wednesday’s explosive victory could prove invaluable. Seattle must regroup quickly after watching a commanding series lead slip away, with its season now hanging in the balance against a Detroit team that has already exceeded all expectations this October. The winner advances to face either the Blue Jays or Yankees in the ALCS, but for now, all focus turns to Friday’s epic conclusion in the Pacific Northwest.