The Seattle Mariners clinched their spot in the AL Championship Series by defeating the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in a record-breaking 15-inning game, the longest winner-take-all postseason contest in baseball history.
In an epic Game 5 that lasted 4 hours and 58 minutes, the Seattle Mariners emerged victorious over the Detroit Tigers with a 3-2 score in the 15th inning, securing their spot in the AL Championship Series. Jorge Polanco delivered the game-ending single off Tommy Kahnle, scoring J.P. Crawford and igniting a wild celebration. This marked the longest winner-take-all postseason game in baseball history. The tightly contested AL Division Series featured three one-run games, all ending 3-2. Mariners manager Dan Wilson praised the team's resilience, with Polanco noting the team 'never gave up.' Luis Castillo earned the win in his first major league relief appearance, and Logan Gilbert also pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Despite a dominant performance from Detroit's Tarik Skubal, who struck out 13 over six innings, and a two-run homer from Kerry Carpenter, the Tigers couldn't seal the win. Leo Rivas tied the game for Seattle in the seventh with a pinch-hit single. The Mariners, who left 12 runners on base, will now face the AL East champion Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday night in Toronto.
