CHICAGO — Kenley Jansen struck out Riley Greene with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of a tie game. It was the moment the veteran closer finally conquered his Detroit Tigers nemesis.
The Tigers won 8-6 in 10 innings at Wrigley Field on Monday. Dillon Dingler’s RBI single and a Cubs error set the stage for Spencer Torkelson’s two-run single. But the game’s emotional peak came earlier—in the ninth, with the score tied 5-5 and the bases full of Tigers.
Jansen, 38, had a history of blown saves against Detroit. He entered with a 5.40 ERA in 10 career appearances versus the Tigers, including two losses in 2025. The bases-loaded, two-out showdown with Greene represented a career-defining moment.
Jansen threw five pitches. Four cutters, one slider. Greene swung through a 92 mph cutter at the knees. The strikeout sent the crowd into a frenzy and finally broke Jansen’s psychological block against the Tigers.
“It was just another at-bat,” Jansen said afterward. “But I’m not going to lie—it felt good.”
The setup was chaotic. Detroit trailed 4-3 after six innings in what manager A.J. Hinch called a “topsy-turvy game.” The Cubs had counterpunched after Riley Greene’s three-run homer in the first. Chicago tied it in the eighth on a Seiya Suzuki sacrifice fly.
Dingler, a 25-year-old rookie catcher, had already launched two home runs. His first was a towering solo shot in the second. His second, a go-ahead blast in the sixth, traveled 412 feet. In the 10th, his RBI single up the middle put the Tigers ahead for good.
“This is what we’ve been building toward,” Dingler said. “Every game matters now.”
Torkelson’s two-run single came after Cubs first baseman Michael Busch misplayed a grounder, loading the bases. Detroit scored six runs over the final four innings.
The win extended Detroit’s winning streak to five games. The Tigers (54-42) sit two games back in the wild-card race. Their record in one-run games is 18-9, best in the American League.
Jansen’s redemption arc is central to the surge. Since being acquired from the Red Sox at the 2025 trade deadline, he has a 2.18 ERA with 22 saves in 25 chances. His strikeout of Greene was his 15th in 12 appearances this month.
The Tigers’ next game is Tuesday at Wrigley. A series win would further cement their playoff push. For Jansen, the bases-loaded strikeout in a tie game against his longtime nemesis was the catharsis he needed to solidify his role as Detroit’s bullpen anchor.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What was the key moment in the game between the Cubs and Tigers?
- A: The key moment was Kenley Jansen striking out Riley Greene with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of a tie game, finally overcoming his history of blown saves against the Tigers.
- Q: Who were the standout players for the Tigers in this game?
- A: Dillon Dingler hit two home runs, including a go-ahead blast, and Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run single in the 10th inning to secure the 8-6 win.
Extended Reading
Data sourced from MLB.com, Detroit News, and Detroit Free Press game recaps.
