DETROIT -- Not since his playing days for Double-A Trenton -- on Aug. 30, 2017, to be exact -- has Garrett Cooper experienced a home run as a central part of a lineup. Yes, along the way, the 28-year-old right fielder has hit a few Minor League shots on rehab assignments, but those were to get him ready to return to the big leagues.

The long-awaited first big league home run finally came for Cooper on Wednesday, a towering blast to left-center in the sixth inning that was a catalyst in the Marlins’ 6-3 comeback victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park.

"It’s just been a long time,” Cooper said. “It’s been a while. It’s good to get that off the bat. Hopefully, we can tap back into that.”

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Until Cooper cleared the wall, the Tigers had taken a three-run lead off Jose Urena, who was charged with two earned runs in six innings.

But the Marlins were able to break through off Tigers starter Daniel Norris with Cooper’s home run, and went on to secure their season-high fifth straight win.

“It helped start the rally,” Cooper said. “In these last five games, everyone has done their part, up and down the lineup. It's been a good run. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

It’s the first time the Marlins have strung together five wins in a row since April 24-30, 2016, when they were on a roll for seven straight games.

Along with Cooper, Brian Anderson connected on a home run, his second in as many nights. Anderson’s two-run shot in the eighth inning gave Miami a three-run lead. Statcast projected the opposite-field drive at 394 feet, with an exit velocity of 108.1 mph.

“[Cooper’s homer] was big,” Anderson said. “Just to get something going. It was huge for him, finally getting that first one. Just seeing the ball come off hot like that is always a good sign, it shows the other guys it was possible. He kind of kick-started us there.”

Although Cooper has been Miami’s Opening Day right fielder the past two seasons, the 28-year-old has had his MLB career sidetracked due to injuries. Wednesday was his 39th big league game since he broke in with the Yankees in 2017.

Twice this season, Cooper was on the injured list -- with a bruised left hand and a left calf strain.

Home run No. 1 came on his 124th plate appearance, and 111th at-bat.

“If you look at it, not that many games,” Cooper said. “It's just been a collective up and down the last year and a half.”

If he can stay healthy, Cooper feels he can be a 20 home run-caliber player.

“I felt like a couple of years ago, when I started figuring things out, and tapping into my swing, that I could hit 15, 20, 25 homers,” Cooper said. “I haven't had the chance to play every day, and getting injured last year put a little wrench in everything. ... Continue to work. Extra work every day. Hopefully, those will happen more.”

The blast was a no-doubter, projected by Statcast at 428 feet with an exit velocity of 112.2 mph. It came on a 3-1 Norris four-seam fastball.

Because of the threat Cooper presents, the Marlins are willing to give him a long look.

Listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, Cooper is an imposing presence, who did demonstrate the ability to clear the fences in the Minors. In 2017, his final year with the Yankees, he combined for 18 home runs at Double-A and Triple-A in 350 at-bats.

In his entire Minor League career, Cooper connected on 47 home runs in 475 games.

The ball was retrieved for Cooper, who plans on putting it on his mantel, along with some of his most cherished accomplishments. The home run ball will go along with his first MLB hit, and some of his college achievements at Auburn University.

Cooper’s blast in the sixth inning gave the Marlins a spark, and they claimed the lead with three runs in the seventh inning. Neil Walker had a two-run double, and Miguel Rojas’ RBI single off Buck Farmer gave Miami the lead.

“He's a guy, we know has power,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Cooper. “I talk about it like it doesn't look like it's game power yet. But obviously, it's in there.”