Key keywords: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, 2024 MLB Regular Season, Comerica Park, early two-run home run, American League playoff race, Jon Gray, AJ Hinch The Detroit Tigers picked up a dominant 7-3 victory over the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, powered by a scorching hot start from young outfielder Riley Greene that set the tone for the entire contest. In the bottom of the first inning, with one runner on base and one out, Greene stepped into the box against Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray. On a 1-1 fastball right down the middle, the 23-year-old slugger launched a 423-foot two-run home run deep into the right field bleachers, putting the Tigers up 2-0 before many fans had even settled into their seats. The early blast electrified the home crowd and sparked a surge of offensive production for Detroit in the opening frames. The Tigers added three more runs in the bottom of the second inning, with Greene notching an RBI double to bring home another run and extend the lead to 5-0 before Gray was pulled from the game after just 1.2 innings pitched, having allowed five earned runs on six hits. The Rangers attempted to mount a comeback over the middle innings, scoring one run in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the sixth to cut the Tigers’ lead to 5-3. But Detroit’s bullpen stepped up to shut down the Rangers’ offense for the final three frames, allowing zero hits and just one walk across the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. The Tigers padded their lead with two more runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach. Greene finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, two runs batted in, a double and the opening home run, marking his 12th home run of the 2024 season. Tigers manager AJ Hinch praised Greene after the game, noting that his early offensive explosion gave the entire team confidence to play loose and aggressive for the rest of the contest. With the win, the Tigers improved to 42-33 on the season, moving into second place in the American League Central, just 1.5 games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins. The Rangers, meanwhile, fell to 39-36 with their third consecutive loss on their current road trip, as they look to turn around their inconsistent form to stay in the crowded American League playoff picture.