By Mmesoma 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Detroit Tigers continued their midseason momentum Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Washington Nationals 5–2 in the opening game of a doubleheader at Nationals Park. Right-hander Riley Greene delivered a standout performance, guiding the Tigers to their third consecutive win.
Greene, who’s been steadily emerging as a reliable presence for Detroit, pitched six strong innings, allowing only two runs on five hits while striking out seven. His poise on the mound and command of the strike zone helped the Tigers maintain control throughout the game.
“I felt good out there,” Greene said postgame. “We’re playing with confidence right now, and it’s showing in all aspects—pitching, defense, hitting. We just want to keep building on this.”
The Tigers gave Greene early run support in the third inning, capitalizing on back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases. Spencer Torkelson then drove in two runs with a sharp double down the left-field line. Detroit added insurance runs in the fifth and seventh innings, thanks to timely hits from Matt Vierling and Jake Rogers.
Washington struggled to mount consistent offense against Greene, managing their only two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single. The Nationals had a chance to rally in the seventh, but reliever Alex Lange came in with two men on and struck out the side to shut the door.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch praised his team’s all-around effort. “Riley set the tone, our hitters were aggressive but patient, and the bullpen held firm. That’s the kind of baseball we want to play, especially in a doubleheader scenario.”
The Tigers (now 43–39) look to carry their momentum into Game 2 of the twin bill, while the Nationals (37–45) will try to regroup and avoid being swept at home.
First pitch for Game 2 is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.
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