Mariners Edge Tigers in ALDS Thriller to Face Blue Jays

SEATTLE — In a gripping 15-inning battle, the Seattle Mariners defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Friday night, securing their place in the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2001.

The game, which lasted nearly five hours, showcased a remarkable performance from both teams’ pitching staffs, combining for 15 pitchers and 472 pitches.

Mariners pitcher George Kirby set the stage, pitching five strong innings before relievers took over to keep the Tigers scoreless for nearly three hours. Tigers starter Tarik Skubal made history, striking out 13 batters, a new postseason record for consecutive strikeouts with seven.

The Mariners struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a sacrifice fly off a double from Josh Naylor. However, the Tigers’ Kerry Carpenter swung the game in their favor with a two-run homer in the sixth, giving them a 2-1 lead.

Seattle rallied in the seventh inning when rookie Leo Rivas, in his first postseason plate appearance, tied the game with a clutch RBI single. From there, both teams were locked in a deadlock, with opportunities squandered and both bullpens stepping up for long relief.

Mariners’ manager Dan Wilson praised his bullpen’s efforts: “You can’t say enough about what those guys did out of the bullpen.”

Finally, in the 15th, J.P. Crawford led off with a single, and after a series of strategic plays, Jorge Polanco delivered the game-winning hit, scoring Crawford and sending the Seattle crowd into a frenzy.

With this victory, the Mariners will head to Toronto to face the Blue Jays in the ALCS, where Game 1 is set for Sunday night. The Mariners are one step closer to breaking their long-standing championship drought and achieving a spot in the World Series.