Mariners Beat Tigers in 15-Inning Game 5 to Reach ALCS

The Seattle Mariners pulled off one of the most dramatic wins in franchise history, edging the Detroit Tigers 3–2 in a wild, 15-inning showdown at T-Mobile Park. This was more than a game—it felt like a test of nerves and endurance, with postseason baseball at its most merciless.

Jorge Polanco’s walk-off single finally ended it, sending Seattle to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time since 2001. That’s just the fourth time the Mariners have ever made it this far.

A Historic Postseason Marathon

Fans got a real slice of history here. This was the longest winner-take-all contest ever played in the MLB postseason.

Both teams leaned hard on their bullpens to survive, inning after inning. Every pitch felt loaded, every baserunner made hearts pound, and missed chances just stung more as the night dragged on.

Pitchers Set Records, Offense Struggles

Detroit’s ace, Tarik Skubal, was on another level. He struck out 13 Mariners, setting records for both total and consecutive strikeouts in a do-or-die playoff game.

That’s a performance that’ll stick in the postseason memory bank. Seattle’s starter, George Kirby, tossed five clean innings before manager Dan Wilson surprisingly turned to the bullpen.

That nearly backfired when Gabe Speier gave up a two-run shot to Kerry Carpenter.

Kerry Carpenter’s Ruthian Performance

Carpenter basically was Detroit’s offense. He went 4-for-5 with a homer, becoming the first player since Babe Ruth in 1926 to reach base five times and go deep in a winner-take-all game.

Even with that, Detroit just couldn’t find the big hits in extras. They left a jaw-dropping number of runners stranded, missing those clutch moments that decide games like this.

Seattle’s Timely Hitting Turns the Tide

Seattle tied it up in the seventh when José Rivas, pinch-hitting on his birthday of all days, slapped a single to bring home the tying run. After that, it turned into a tense chess match.

The Mariners had their chances to end it sooner. But it took Polanco’s swing in the 15th to finally break through and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Missed Opportunities Define the Night

The number of blown scoring chances was honestly staggering. The two teams combined to leave 22 runners on base, which says a lot about both the pitching and the offensive struggles.

Every inning dangled the hope of a breakthrough, but it just kept slipping away until the very end.

Battle of the Bullpens

Seattle’s bullpen came up huge, with relievers wriggling out of jams in those endless extra innings. Each guy was handed the job of shutting down a stubborn Tigers lineup.

Detroit’s relievers kept pace, matching zeros until Polanco’s game-winner finally snapped the tie.

Looking Ahead for Seattle

For the Tigers, this loss has to hurt after such a solid regular season. A strong pitching performance and one guy’s historic day at the plate just weren’t enough to overcome a team that’s waited two decades for this kind of October magic.

Now the Mariners get the Blue Jays next. They’ll ride the wave from this classic win, still chasing their first-ever World Series trip—who knows, maybe this is the year?

Key Takeaways from the Game

In case you missed the drama, here are the pivotal points from this historic clash:

• Jorge Polanco’s walk-off single pushed Seattle into its fourth ALCS appearance in franchise history.
• This one dragged on for 15 innings—yeah, the longest winner-take-all contest in MLB postseason history.
• Tarik Skubal struck out 13. That set a new record for a decisive game.
• Kerry Carpenter matched Babe Ruth with a rare postseason milestone. Not something you see every October.
• Both teams left 22 runners on base. Ouch.

Seattle fans will remember this one for years. The grit, the drama, those flashes of brilliance—it all just sticks with you.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Tigers-Mariners Game 5 takeaways: Seattle advances to ALCS in 15-inning thriller