Riley Greene homers twice, drives in 4 runs in the Tigers' 6-0 win over the Guardians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Riley Greene hit two solo homers, had a season-high four hits and drove in four runs, and Framber Valdez threw seven innings to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-0 on Saturday night.

The Guardians, who remain in the third American League wild-card position, only pushed two runners past first base and totaled three hits against Valdez, Kyle Finnegan and Beau Brieske.

Greene cleared the wall in left-center field against Parker Messick (11-9) in the first and sixth, staking the Tigers to a 3-0 lead. He also singled in Gleyber Torres in the third and doubled home Torres in the seventh.

They were Greene’s first home runs since Aug. 4 at Seattle and his second multi-homer game of the season. Detroit scored three times in the seventh against Matt Festa, including Ben Malgeri’s single that plated Greene.

Valdez (9-10) allowed three singles in matching his longest outing of the year, striking out three with a lone walk. The left-hander held Cleveland hitless after the second.

Messick struck out a career-high 12 over six innings, whiffing the side twice while allowing three runs. The All-Star rookie is 0-2 in three starts against Detroit this season.

The Tigers won for just the fifth time in 21 games since Aug. 14.

Cleveland swept a doubleheader to open the series Friday, winning the day game 7-6 on a Brayan Rocchio walk-off homer and the nightcap 4-3 on Travis Bazzana’s 10th-inning single to score Rocchio.

Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter did not play because of a sprained right wrist, but manager Stephen Vogt said his playing status is considered day-to-day.

Tigers rookies Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark were given the night off.

Tigers RHP Jackson Jobe (1-2, 4.63 ERA) was set to face Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (13-7, 3.81) on Sunday in the series finale.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Cleveland Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis, center, has a mound meeting with starting pitcher Parker Messick, right, and catcher Austin Hedges, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick delivers against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene reacts after hitting a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Framber Valdez delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene watches his solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick as catcher Austin Hedges looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out nine in six sharp innings, Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 41st home run and the Philadelphia Phillies pulled within four games of the first-place Braves in the NL East with a 4-2 victory over Atlanta on Saturday night.

Luis Arraez had two hits and an RBI for the two-time defending division champion Phillies, who have won 16 of their last 20.

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley went deep for Atlanta, which lost for just the third time in 12 games.

Wheeler (12-5) escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning and then looked more like the dominant right-hander he has been for much of his career after a shaky August in which he had a 6.26 ERA. Wheeler allowed one run on three hits.

Jhoan Duran tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his 30th save.

After giving up a pair of singles and a walk to open the game, Wheeler got Michael Harris II on a foul pop fly, struck out Mauricio Dubón and induced an Ozzie Albies flyout.

Philadelphia scored two runs in the bottom of the frame off Martín Pérez (8-9) on Arraez’s RBI single and J.T. Realmuto’s bases-loaded walk. Acuña likely saved three runs with a stellar, inning-ending leaping catch of Bryson Stott’s liner to right-center field.

After Philadelphia took a three-run lead, Acuña clubbed an 0-1, 82-mph sinker from Wheeler into the second deck in left-center field in the third, pulling Atlanta within 3-1. Schwarber answered in the fourth with a drive to deep right to restore the three-run advantage.

The loudest cheers of the evening from the sellout crowd of 43,241 came when Wheeler fanned Acuña in the fifth after the Braves star danced around the bases with his home run trot two innings earlier.

Pérez was dominant in August, with a 1.76 ERA in six starts, but struggled in his first September outing. He surrendered four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Braves RHP Tyler Mahle (5-10, 4.25 ERA) faces Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (6-10, 4.93) in the third game of a four-game set on Sunday afternoon.

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Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr., left, celebrates with third base coach Tommy Watkins, right, after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies Derek Hill, right, scores past Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, left, on an RBI hit by Kyle Schwarber during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber hits a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)