WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Max Clark wasted no time making his mark. On his second night in the major leagues, the 21-year-old outfield prospect crushed a two-run homer in the sixth inning, propelling the Detroit Tigers to an 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. The game was just the appetizer for a night that ended with a seismic trade: the Tigers dealt star pitcher Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three minor league prospects, confirming the biggest move of the trade deadline.

Clark, selected third overall in the 2023 draft, was called up from Triple-A on Friday. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI in his debut, then delivered the decisive blow in his second game. With the Tigers leading 4-3 in the sixth, Clark turned on a 1-2 pitch from Jack Perkins and sent a high drive to right field. The ball cleared the Detroit bullpen and landed on the outfield lawn, where a fan scooped it up. Kenley Jansen, the Tigers' veteran catcher, quickly negotiated with the fan, swapping the souvenir for some team gear and returning the milestone ball to Clark.

"It's something you dream about as a kid," Clark said after the game. "To get it in my second game, with the team battling for a playoff spot, it's surreal."

The homer was part of a historic night for Detroit. Kevin McGonigle, another 2023 draft pick, also went deep for the second straight game, giving the Tigers two home runs from players aged 21 or younger in the same contest for the first time in franchise history. Gleyber Torres added a two-run shot in the fifth inning that broke a 1-1 tie, setting the stage for Clark's heroics.

Framber Valdez, the Tigers' left-hander, earned his 10th career win against Oakland. He allowed two runs on nine hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking two. The veteran kept the Athletics at bay long enough for the offense to build a cushion.

For Oakland, the loss extended a painful streak. The A's have now lost 11 consecutive series, a mark they have reached only three times in the last 110 seasons, previously in 2008 and 1960. Henry Bolte provided a bright spot with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Perkins took the loss, surrendering six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The game's outcome was overshadowed by the postgame news. The Tigers' front office confirmed the trade of Skubal, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, to the Dodgers. In return, Detroit received three prospects: right-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris, outfielder Zyhir Hope, and infielder Alex Freeland. The deal signals a clear strategic shift for the Tigers, who are balancing a surprising playoff push with a long-term vision.

"We believe in the young core we're building," general manager Jeff Greenberg said. "Max and Kevin are just the beginning. This move sets us up for sustained success."

Looking ahead, the Tigers will send right-hander Keider Montero (7-6, 3.34 ERA) to the mound for Sunday's series finale against Oakland lefty Gage Jump (4-6, 4.00 ERA). A win would give Detroit a perfect 6-0 record against the Athletics this season, marking the first time the Tigers have swept a season series against any opponent.

Clark, meanwhile, will keep chasing history. The rookie's first homer might be just the start of a long career in Detroit, but for one night, he was the brightest star in a game that had plenty of drama both on and off the field.