Mariners Defeat Tigers in Record-Breaking 15-Inning Showdown to Move On to First ALCS in 24 Years
Through a gripping 15-inning clash, Jorge Polanco drove in the winning run with a single to the outfield, sealing a 3-2 victory for the Seattle Mariners over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the ALDS.
Decisive Plays in the Marathon Game
The Mariners pitcher, making his first relief appearance in the major leagues, pitched over an inning to secure the win, sending his team to the ALCS for the initial occasion in over two decades.
Seattle will now face the Blue Jays for the championship in a contest between franchise counterparts. The series opener is set for Sunday in the Blue Jays' home.
15th Inning Game-Winning Sequence
- JP Crawford initiated the bottom of the 15th with a line-drive single to right field.
- Another batter was struck by a throw, placing runners on first and second.
- After a teammate made an out, a fielding mistake by the outfielder allowed the runner to advance.
- Following an intentional walk, Polanco connected on a full count to end the game.
Key Runs and Defensive Performances
Kerry Carpenter provided all of the visitors' offense with a home run in the sixth inning.
Seattle tied it at 2-2 in the later inning on a pinch hitter's RBI single.
Both teams posed a danger multiple times in extra innings, with the home team hitting into inning-ending double plays in both the later extra innings.
Opening Hurlers Battle
The Tigers' ace and the Mariners' starter delivered a low-scoring battle in the opening frames.
Skubal, a Cy Young Award favorite, gave up a single score on a couple of hits with no walks and double-digit K's over six innings. He established a playoff mark with seven consecutive strikeouts.
The only run came in the early going, when a double, stolen base, and sacrifice fly scored a run for the home side.
Kirby opened with shutout frames before allowing a early hit in the sixth. After a pitching change, Carpenter homered on a pitch to hand Detroit the lead.
The starter lasted over five frames and was responsible for one run on a few hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
This victory marks a major achievement for the Seattle franchise, who move forward to compete for a spot in the World Series after a long playoff drought.
