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Valencia’s debut homer lifts Tigers to 4-1 win.

7/10/2026

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Summary

Valencia Homers

Eduardo Valencia homered in his first major-league plate appearance, giving Detroit a 4–1 win.
Promoted from Triple-A Toledo after Dillon Dingler’s bruised hand, Valencia’s 425-foot pinch-hit blast made him the 10th Tiger to homer in a first at-bat and the first since Akil Baddoo on April 4, 2021.
He was hit by a pitch from Mark Leiter Jr. in his second at-bat and then thanked his family and Venezuela before being doused with water.

Summary

Valdez Dominates

Framber Valdez (5-6) threw seven innings of one-run ball, struck out nine and allowed no walks, leading Detroit to a 4-1 win.
The victory completed a five-game winning streak and swept Oakland, which fell to six straight defeats.
Jack Perkins (2-5) took the loss for Oakland after surrendering three runs in three innings.
Detroit’s offense supplied all four runs with homers by Jake Rogers, Zach McKinstry and Eduardo Valencia.

Summary

Valencia Called-up

The Tigers DFA outfielder Jahmai Jones, clearing a roster spot for catcher Eduardo Valencia.
Valencia, the No. 21 prospect, returned from Triple-A Toledo after hitting .267/.353/.486 with 16 HR.
Detroit trails Texas by four games for third American League (AL) Wild Card and Chicago by 5½ games AL Central.
Left-hander Tarik Skubal, a AL Cy Young winner, is in his contract year, making his postseason role key at the trade deadline.

History

Historical Context

In 1887 George Tebeau and Mike Griffin each hit a home run in their debut at-bat, a feat Tebeau later backed with 61 stolen bases in 1889. By 2024 the Detroit Tigers added Eduardo Valencia to the exclusive list, mirroring the club’s long-standing pattern of unexpected power surges highlighted by Framber Valdez’s seven scoreless innings.

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Valencia Homers

Eduardo Valencia homered in his first major-league plate appearance, giving Detroit a 4–1 win.
Promoted from Triple-A Toledo after Dillon Dingler’s bruised hand, Valencia’s 425-foot pinch-hit blast made him the 10th Tiger to homer in a first at-bat and the first since Akil Baddoo on April 4, 2021.
He was hit by a pitch from Mark Leiter Jr. in his second at-bat and then thanked his family and Venezuela before being doused with water.

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