Max Clark hits his first career homer to lead the Tigers past the A’s 8-6

Max Clark hit his first career home run to power the Detroit Tigers to an 8‑6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night in West Sacramento, Calif. Clark, who was promoted from the minors on Friday, is the No. 3 overall pick from the 2023 draft. In his debut he collected three hits and an RBI, and in his second game he broke the contest open with a two‑run homer in the sixth inning off Jack Perkins (2‑7). Kevin McGonigle homered for a second straight game, and Gleyber Torres added a two‑run double to keep the Tigers within 2½ games of the final wild‑card spot just two days before the trade deadline. The home runs by Clark and fellow 2023 draftee McGonigle marked the first time Detroit has received homers from two players aged 21 or younger in the same game. Framber Valdez (6‑7) allowed two runs and nine hits over seven innings to record his 10th career win against the Athletics. Perkins surrendered six runs and nine hits in 5⅓ innings as Oakland dropped its 11th consecutive series — only the third such streak in the past 110 seasons; the club also experienced the skid in 2008 and 1960. Henry Bolte countered with a three‑run shot for the A’s. After Torres broke a tie with his two‑run double in the fifth, Clark’s ensuing swing sent a drive over the Tigers’ bullpen. A fan retrieved the ball from the lawn, and Kenley Jansen quickly exchanged it for some swag. The Athletics are set to relocate to Las Vegas in 2028, where they will open a new ballpark on the Strip. Looking ahead, RH Keider Montero (7‑6, 3.34 ERA) is slated to start the series finale for Detroit on Sunday against LH Gage Jump (4‑6, 4.00). A Tigers win would give Detroit a 6‑0 record against Oakland this season and the first undefeated season series in franchise history.