Riley Greene homers twice and surging Tigers top struggling Orioles 4-2

DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene homered twice and drove in three runs, and the Detroit Tigers beat Baltimore 4-2 on Sunday to take two of three from the Orioles.

Greene hit a two-run homer with two outs in the third off Cade Povich (2-9) and a solo drive in the eighth against Gregory Soto. Greene leads the Tigers with 23 homers. He hit both homers off left-handers after entering the day batting .203 with four homers against lefties.

Detroit (77-73) remained 2 1/2 games behind Minnesota (79-70) for the last AL wild card, has won six of eight.

“That's a really, really good team over there,” Greene said. “We just keep putting our ourselves in good positions to get a possible win. Our goal is just to win every single game we can.”

Baltimore (84-64) dropped its second straight series and scored just six runs in the three games. The Orioles, who have lost six of eight, fell three games back of the AL East-leading Yankees but are in position for the top AL wild card.

“Our pitching's been really good,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “We're giving ourselves a chance to win almost every single night out. We're playing pretty good defense. We're just not getting enough baserunners and when we do, we're not getting them home.”

Keider Montero (6-6) gave up five hits in five innings and Jason Foley got four straight outs for his 23rd save in 26 chances.

"Having control of the zone, that was the key for sure," Montero said through an interpreter.

Povich allowed two runs, two hits and two walks in five innings while striking out eight.

Colt Keith boosted the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single in the sixth against right-hander Jacob Webb.

Adley Rutschman hit a two-run homer in the eighth against Will Vest, Rutschman’s 19th homer this season but first since Aug. 18.

“We've just got to get going offensively,” Hyde said. “We had the two-run homer later in the game but we're not stringing together many hits. When we have opportunities, we're not cashing them in.”

Soto has allowed 30 home runs in his big league career but Greene's was just the fifth by a left-handed batter.

Soto is an ex-Tiger, and that familiarity was somewhat helpful for Greene.

“I know he's got that sinker and slider. It's still not a comfortable at-bat because he's really good,” Greene said. “Just trying to put the barrel on the ball.”

Baltimore outfielder Heston Kjerstad was activated from the 10-day injured list after recovering from a concussion and went 0 for 2 and Webb was reinstated from the 15-day IL following a bout of right elbow inflammation. Left-hander Cole Irvin and infielder Nick Maton were designated for assignment.

UP NEXT

Orioles: RHP Albert Suárez (8-5, 3.39 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game home series against San Francisco on Tuesday night.

Tigers: RHP Seth Lugo (16-8, 2.94) starts for Kansas City on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against visiting Detroit.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cade Povich throws against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith hits an RBI single, scoring Matt Vierling, in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch watches from the dugout in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, left, and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel, right, watch from the dugout in the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tyler Holton throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers third base coach Joey Cora, left, watches as Matt Vierling, right, runs to score on an RBI single by Colt Keith against the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cade Povich throws against Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene reacts after hitting a two-run home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cade Povich in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene, right, is congratulated by Andy Ibáñez after hitting a two-run home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cade Povich in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)