Seattle Mariners Defeat Detroit Tigers in Record-Breaking 15-Inning Thriller to Move On to AL Championship Series in 24 Years
Through a gripping extra-inning battle, Jorge Polanco drove in the decisive score with a single to the outfield, clinching a narrow victory for the home team over the Detroit Tigers in the decisive game of the ALDS.
Key Moments in the Marathon Game
Luis Castillo, making his initial bullpen outing in the big leagues, threw over an inning to secure the victory, propelling his team to the ALCS for the initial occasion in over two decades.
Seattle will now compete against the Blue Jays for the pennant in a showdown between 1977 expansion counterparts. The series opener is set for Sunday in Toronto.
15th Inning Game-Winning Sequence
- JP Crawford initiated the bottom of the last inning with a line-drive single to the outfield.
- Randy Arozarena was struck by a throw, placing players on the bases.
- After a teammate flied out, a throwing error by the outfielder let Crawford to take third.
- Following an intentional walk, the batter connected on a full count to end the game.
Scoring Highlights and Pitching Efforts
Kerry Carpenter accounted for all of the visitors' scoring with a home run in the sixth inning.
Seattle tied it at 2-2 in the seventh on a pinch hitter's run-scoring hit.
Both teams posed a danger multiple times in overtime, with the Mariners grounding into inning-ending double plays in both the later extra innings.
Opening Hurlers Battle
The Tigers' ace and the Mariners' starter delivered a pitchers' duel in the opening frames.
The left-hander, a pitching honor favorite, allowed a single score on a couple of hits with zero bases on balls 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 deep out brought home a point for the home side.
The Mariners' pitcher began with five scoreless innings before allowing a early hit in the sixth. After a bullpen move, Carpenter went deep on a pitch to hand Detroit the advantage.
Kirby went five-plus innings and was responsible for a single score on a few hits with zero free passes and several K's.
The win signifies a significant milestone for the Mariners, who advance to battle for a place in the championship after a long postseason absence.
