DETROIT (Interstat) — Riley Greene turned a two-strike called strike into a full count with a successful automated ball-strike challenge, then tripled off the center-field fence to start a four-run sixth inning as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Comerica Park. Framber Valdez earned the win for Detroit, and Kenley Jansen recorded the save. The Tigers improved to 68-79, while the Rockies fell to 55-92. Attendance was 33,245, and the game took 2 hours, 41 minutes.

Colorado threatened first. Jake McCarthy singled to lead off the game, but Connor Norby grounded into a force out and Hunter Goodman ended the inning with a double play after Cole Carrigg singled. Detroit went down in order in the first on three strikeouts. In the second, Adael Amador walked for Colorado, but Troy Johnston and Jordan Beck flew out. Riley Greene singled in the bottom half for Detroit, and Max Clark walked, but John Peck grounded into a double play. Colorado added a single by Norby in the third, and Detroit went down in order in the third. Detroit also went down in order in the fourth, while Colorado did the same in the top half.

The Rockies broke through in the fifth. Troy Johnston singled, and Jordan Beck singled to put runners on first and third. Ezequiel Tovar reached on a fielder’s choice that cut down Johnston at home, and Jake McCarthy followed with a single that saw Beck thrown out at home by right fielder Zach McKinstry. Connor Norby walked to load the bases, and Cole Carrigg reached on a fielding error by third baseman Kevin McGonigle that allowed Tovar to score. Hunter Goodman grounded into a force out to end the inning. Detroit answered in the bottom half when Max Clark homered to right field. John Peck and Zach McKinstry walked, but Javier Báez grounded into a double play.

The decisive rally came in the sixth. Gleyber Torres drew a one-out walk from left-hander Mark Manfredi. Spencer Torkelson just missed a go-ahead home run, flying out to the warning track in left. Manfredi then appeared to freeze Greene with a 2-2 fastball on the outside corner, but Greene challenged the call and the count went full. Three pitches later, Greene drove a ball to the center-field fence for a go-ahead triple that scored Torres. Dillon Dingler followed with a two-run homer to left. Max Clark was hit by a pitch, and Detroit added another run in the inning before Zach McKinstry flew out to right. The four-run inning turned a tie game into a commanding Detroit lead.

Colorado went down in order in the seventh on a Mickey Moniak strikeout, a Zac Veen groundout and a Jake McCarthy popout. Detroit also went down in order in the seventh when Javier Báez popped out, Kevin McGonigle flew out and Gleyber Torres flew out. Colorado had a chance in the eighth when Cole Carrigg singled, but Hunter Goodman struck out and Kyle Karros lined out sharply to second. Detroit added a run in the eighth when Spencer Torkelson walked and Riley Greene doubled to right field to score him. Dillon Dingler grounded out, Max Clark flew out to center field and John Peck flew out sharply to right.

In the ninth, Adael Amador singled off Brant Hurter on a ball deflected by John Peck. Troy Johnston grounded out to move Amador to second, and Mickey Moniak grounded out to move him to third. Zac Veen then singled softly to the pitcher to score Amador, and Jake McCarthy singled to left. Connor Norby struck out swinging to end the game.

Framber Valdez was Detroit’s top performer, allowing six hits over six scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Colorado starter Mason Adams was sharp in a no-decision, giving up one earned run on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts. Jacob Waguespack pitched two scoreless innings of relief for Detroit, and Kenley Jansen recorded one out for his 19th save. Manfredi took the loss after allowing two earned runs on one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Blas Castaño pitched two innings for Colorado, allowing one earned run on one hit.

Riley Greene finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, including the go-ahead triple in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth. Max Clark homered in the fifth to tie the game. Dillon Dingler homered and drove in two runs. Jake McCarthy went 3-for-5 for Colorado. Colorado finished with 10 hits to Detroit’s five, but the Rockies left several runners on base. Detroit grounded into two double plays. Colorado pitchers combined for 12 strikes, 38 balls, and 12 balls in play. Detroit pitchers combined for 12 strikes, 59 balls, and 12 balls in play.

Greene, who led the American League and set a Tigers single-season record for strikeouts last year, has become one of the most effective automated ball-strike challengers in the league this season. The skill is built on knowledge of the strike zone and confidence to stay within it, which he worked on during offseason hitting. He also has situational awareness of when a challenge is worth using. On Friday, his challenge was meaningful. Dillon Dingler has been the best at automated ball-strike challenges from behind the plate in the system’s inaugural season in the major leagues, and Greene has quietly built an impressive record from the batter’s box.

The Rockies entered the game after three straight losses at the New York Yankees and have now dropped four consecutive games. They will continue their series at Comerica Park on Saturday and Sunday before returning home to face the San Diego Padres. The Tigers, who had won two of three against the Minnesota Twins before Friday, will host Colorado again Saturday and Sunday before traveling to Toronto for a series against the Blue Jays. After that, Detroit will visit the Chicago White Sox and then host the Washington Nationals.

Before the game, Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Detroit Tigers 4, Colorado Rockies 3. Interstat’s ELO system gave Detroit a 67.4 percent probability to win. Detroit was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5.