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How to tune into Sport NationMariners to meet Blue Jays in ALCS after 15-inning epic
Luke Olson • October 11th, 2025 7:05 pm
Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco set up the game-winning run against the Tigers | Photo: AP
Jorge Polanco hit a game-ending single in the 15th inning as the Seattle Mariners advanced to the AL Championship Series for the first time in nearly quarter of a century.
The Mariners' 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night (Saturday NZ Time) was the longest winner-take-all post-season game in baseball history.
With one out and the bases loaded, Polanco drove in J.P. Crawford with a liner to right off Tommy Kahnle. Crawford hit a lead-off single, Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch and Julio Rodríguez was intentionally walked, before Polanco's big swing on the 472nd pitch of an epic Game 5 in a tightly contested Division Series.
The Mariners left 12 runners on base and still managed to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2001. Next up is a match-up with the AL East champion Blue Jays, beginning on Sunday night (Monday NZ time) in Toronto.
"We never give up. We just keep fighting. It doesn't matter how many innings we play," Polanco said.
"We just stay ready and wait for the moment. It's going to come. It was my time."
Luis Castillo pitched one-and-a-third innings for the win in his first major league relief appearance. Logan Gilbert, another member of Seattle's rotation, worked two scoreless innings in his first relief outing since his college days at Stetson University in 2017.
"It was such a tough night," Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh said. "Everyone put their other stuff aside and did everything for the team, including Logan and Luis."
Detroit wasted a stellar performance by Tarik Skubal, who struck out 13 while pitching six innings of one-run ball.
The Tigers went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
Pitcher Tarik Skubal was a standout for the Detroit Tigers | Photo: AP
"We had an incredible game today that - unfortunately, somebody had to lose, and that somebody was us, and it hurts," Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said.
Kerry Carpenter put Detroit in front when he hit a two-run homer off Gabe Speier in the sixth inning. Carpenter had four hits and walked twice, becoming the first player to reach five times and hit a home run in a winner-take-all post-season game since Babe Ruth in 1926.
The Mariners tied it at 2-2 on Leo Rivas' pinch-hit single off Tyler Holton in the seventh. Rivas celebrated his 28th birthday with his first post-season hit.
"He was up to the task tonight," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. "It was a huge hit."
Seattle dropped four of their six games against Toronto this season. The Mariners won two of three in an April series in Toronto, but were swept by the Blue Jays at home from May 9-11.
- AP
