DETROIT — Finally, a much needed victory for the Detroit Tigers. They needed it, having lost six consecutive games and nine of 10, but on Tuesday they scratched out a 4-1 victory over American League-leading Tampa Bay. A three-run fifth inning, highlighted by Max Clark's second major league home run, sparked the Tigers and erased a 1-0 deficit. Clark's two-run home run to the grandstand in ...

Max Clark of the Detroit Tigers watches his two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Detroit.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America/TNS

DETROIT — Finally, a much needed victory for the Detroit Tigers.

They needed it, having lost six consecutive games and nine of 10, but on Tuesday they scratched out a 4-1 victory over American League-leading Tampa Bay.

A three-run fifth inning, highlighted by Max Clark's second major league home run, sparked the Tigers and erased a 1-0 deficit.

Clark's two-run home run to the grandstand in right field gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Gleyber Torres followed with a single, and a balk moved Torres to second base. With two out, Kevin McGonigle lined a grounder on which first baseman Jonathan Aranda was charged with an error, bringing home Torres and giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

The Tigers increased the lead to 4-1 in the seventh inning. Javier Báez opened the rally with a triple to right-center field. After two out, Hao-Yu Lee brought home Báez with a single to left field.

Drew Sommers earned the victory (1-3) in relief of Jackson Jobe, the first victory in his major league career. Sommers retired all five hitters he faced. Jacob Waguespack, Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen each threw an inning of spotless relief to close out the victory.

Jobe went 4 1/3 innings in his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Jobe allowed four hits and one earned run, while walking three and striking out four.

Tampa opened the scoring with a run in the fourth inning against Jobe, although Jobe did a credible job keeping the uprising at one run.

Junior Caminero singled and moved to third base on a double by Liam Hicks. With one out, Jonny DeLuca singled home Caminero, giving the Rays a 1-0 lead. Jobe walked Cedric Mullins to load the bases with one out. But Jobe struck out Richie Palacios and got Taylor Wells to ground out, ending the Tampa rally.