Mariners Advance to ALCS with 15-Inning Victory Over Tigers

The Seattle Mariners clinched a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in a 15-inning Game 5 on Friday night, advancing to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time since 2001. Jorge Polanco delivered the decisive hit, a walk-off single in the bottom of the 15th inning, driving in J.P. Crawford to end the longest winner-take-all postseason game in Major League Baseball history.

The game began with the Mariners taking an early lead in the second inning when Mitch Garver's sacrifice fly brought home a run. The Tigers responded in the sixth inning as Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run homer, putting Detroit ahead 2-1. Seattle tied the game in the seventh inning with Leo Rivas' pinch-hit single, which scored a run and eventually led to extra innings.

Both teams' pitching staffs were tested throughout the marathon game. Detroit's starter, Tarik Skubal, struck out 13 batters over six innings, setting a postseason record for consecutive strikeouts with seven. Seattle's bullpen held the Tigers scoreless from the seventh inning onward, with Luis Castillo earning the win after pitching a scoreless 15th inning.

The Mariners will face the American League East champion Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday night in Toronto.