Seattle Mariners Outlast Tigers in Historic Extra-Inning Showdown to Move On to AL Championship Series in Over Two Decades
In a dramatic extra-inning clash, Jorge Polanco drove in the decisive score with a single to right field, sealing a 3-2 win for the Seattle Mariners over the Detroit Tigers in the decisive game of the ALDS.
Decisive Plays in the Extended Matchup
The Mariners pitcher, making his first relief appearance in the major leagues, pitched one and one-third innings to secure the win, sending his team to the AL Championship Series for the first time in over two decades.
Seattle will now compete against the Blue Jays for the pennant in a showdown between 1977 expansion brethren. The series opener is set for Sunday in the Blue Jays' home.
Final Inning Game-Winning Sequence
- The leadoff hitter initiated the final half of the last inning with a sharp hit to the outfield.
- Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch, placing runners on first and second.
- After Cal Raleigh made an out, a throwing error by the center fielder allowed the runner to advance.
- Following an strategic base on balls, the batter singled on a 3-2 pitch to conclude the contest.
Scoring Highlights and Defensive Efforts
A Tigers hitter provided all of the visitors' scoring with a two-run homer in the middle frames.
Seattle tied it at 2-2 in the seventh on a substitute batter's RBI single.
Each squad posed a danger multiple times in extra innings, with the Mariners grounding into inning-ending double plays in both the later extra innings.
Opening Hurlers Battle
Tarik Skubal and George Kirby delivered a pitchers' duel in the early innings.
Skubal, a pitching honor contender, allowed a single score on a couple of hits with no walks and 13 strikeouts over six innings. He established a postseason record with back-to-back K's.
His sole allowed score occurred in the early going, when a double, theft, and deep out scored a point for the Mariners.
Kirby opened with five scoreless innings before surrendering a early hit in the sixth. After a pitching change, the Tigers batter homered on a fastball to give Detroit the lead.
Kirby lasted five-plus innings and was responsible for a single score on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
This victory signifies a major achievement for the Mariners, who advance to battle for a place in the World Series after a extended postseason absence.
