Mariners reach their first ALCS since 2001 after a 15-inning victory

Mariners Triumph in Longest Winner-Take-All Game

Game 5 between the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers was definitely worth the late-night watch. It wrapped up around 1 a.m. ET after an intense, five-hour battle, with the Mariners clinching a 3-2 victory after 15 innings. This win sends them to their first American League Championship Series in 24 years.

Neither team managed to score from the top of the 8th until the top of the 15th, but ultimately, the Mariners took the lead thanks to Jorge Polanco’s bases-loaded home run. This game is now recorded as the longest winner-take-all matchup in baseball history.

Detroit’s pitcher Tarik Skubal delivered a solid six-inning performance, allowing just one run and striking out 13 batters. However, the Tigers squandered a 2-1 lead when their bullpen allowed the Mariners to tie the game in the seventh inning.

With a struggling offense, the Tigers went only 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base. Their two scoring opportunities came from Kelly Carpenter’s two-run homer in the sixth, but, unfortunately for them, the rest of the night was a challenge.

There was a lot of pitching action, with both teams utilizing multiple starters. The Tigers had Jack Flaherty pitch two innings on short rest, while Logan Gilbert and winning pitcher Luis Castillo also made appearances out of the bullpen.

Polanco expressed pride in his team’s resilience, saying, “I know it was a long game, but this team never gave up.” Mariners manager Dan Wilson praised the game’s excitement from start to finish. Seattle catcher Cal Lowry reflected on the effort from every player, noting it was a challenging night for everyone involved, especially for Gilbert, who hadn’t pitched in relief since his college days.

The Tigers’ bittersweet conclusion to their season was evident, especially since many had expected this series to take place in Michigan. Detroit had held a good lead in the AL Central early in September but ultimately lost it. The season’s end brought a sense of missed opportunity.

Looking ahead, the Mariners are set to face the Toronto Blue Jays for the pennant. This will mark a significant moment, as neither team has seen the World Series in quite some time; the Blue Jays last played in 1993, while the Mariners haven’t made it past the ALCS before. Game 1 will take place in Toronto on Sunday at 8:03 p.m. ET.