​DETROIT (AP) — Eduardo Valencia joined a select group by homering in his very first major league plate appearance, as Framber Valdez spun seven strong innings and the Tigers completed a sweep of the Athletics with a 4-1 victory Thursday night. Valencia, called up from Triple-A Toledo the same day fellow catcher Dillon Dingler went on the injured list with a right hand contusion, entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh against Hogan Harris and delivered a 425-foot blast to center that capped Detroit’s scoring and helped seal their third straight series win.
Valdez (5-6) matched a season high with nine strikeouts while giving up a single run on three hits. Kyle Finnegan worked the eighth inning and Kenley Jansen closed it out in the ninth for his 11th save. The Tigers have now won five in a row and are 21-12 since June 1, narrowing the gap in the AL Central to 4 1/2 games behind the leader. Jake Rogers and Zach McKinstry each contributed solo shots to fuel Detroit’s victory. Rogers belted his third homer of the year and his second in as many games, driving the ball to left in the third to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. McKinstry added a two-run homer to left in the fifth, extending the cushion.
For Oakland, Jack Perkins (2-5) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits in three innings. Henry Bolte drove in the Athletics’ lone run in the fifth with a groundout. The visitors also endured a collision of misfortune when Zack Gelof left the game in the third after injuring his knee crashing into the outfield wall.
Detroit’s upcoming start schedule had them lining up RHP Jack Flaherty (2-8, 4.60 ERA) to start Friday night at home against Philadelphia, with RHP Aaron Nola (3-6, 5.87) set to oppose. Oakland had not yet announced its starter for Friday’s game in Chicago against the White Sox, with RHP Sean Burke (5-4, 3.56) probably drawing the assignment.
This win extended Detroit’s momentum and left the Tigers within a few games of playoff positioning, underscoring a quick and efficient turn in the club’s fortunes as they push toward the end of the season. Valencia’s dramatic debut homer was the crown jewel of an opportunistic night that highlighted Detroit’s depth and resilience, while Valdez’s outing reinforced the pitching staff’s continued reliability. The ongoing storyline is one of a team rediscovering its footing and steadily tightening its grip on a competitive division race.