Mariners Defeat Tigers in Historic Extra-Inning Thriller to Advance to AL Championship Series in 24 Years

During an intense extra-inning contest, Jorge Polanco drove in the decisive score with a single to the outfield, sealing a 3-2 win for the Seattle Mariners over the visiting squad in Game 5 of the American League Division Series.

Decisive Plays in the Marathon Game

Luis Castillo, making his first relief appearance in the big leagues, threw one and one-third innings to secure the win, sending his team to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2001.

Seattle will now face the Toronto for the pennant in a showdown between franchise brethren. Game 1 is set for Sunday in Toronto.

15th Inning Breakthrough

  • JP Crawford initiated the final half of the 15th with a line-drive single to right field.
  • Another batter was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second.
  • After a teammate flied out, a throwing error by the outfielder let the runner to advance.
  • Following an intentional walk, Polanco connected on a 3-2 pitch to end the contest.

Scoring Highlights and Pitching Performances

A Tigers hitter provided all of Detroit's scoring with a two-run homer in the middle frames.

The Mariners evened the score at two runs apiece in the seventh on a substitute batter's run-scoring hit.

Both teams posed a danger repeatedly in overtime, with the Mariners grounding into twin killings in both the later extra innings.

Opening Hurlers Battle

Tarik Skubal and the Mariners' starter delivered a low-scoring battle in the early innings.

Skubal, a Cy Young Award favorite, allowed a single score on two hits with zero bases on balls and double-digit K's over multiple frames. He set a postseason record with back-to-back K's.

The only run came in the early going, when a two-base hit, theft, and deep out scored a run for the Mariners.

The Mariners' pitcher began with shutout frames before surrendering a lead-off double in the middle inning. After a pitching change, Carpenter went deep on a pitch to hand the visitors the advantage.

The starter lasted over five frames and was responsible for one run on three hits with zero free passes and six strikeouts.

This victory marks a significant milestone for the Mariners, who move forward to battle for a spot in the World Series after a extended postseason absence.

Tasha Fields
Tasha Fields

A seasoned IT consultant with over 10 years of experience in digital transformation and cloud computing.