🔗 Share this article Seattle Mariners Outlast Tigers in Record-Breaking Extra-Inning Showdown to Move On to AL Championship Series in Over Two Decades During an intense extra-inning contest, Jorge Polanco drove in the decisive score with a single to right field, sealing a 3-2 victory for the Seattle Mariners over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. Decisive Plays in the Marathon Matchup The Mariners pitcher, delivering his first relief appearance in the big leagues, threw one and one-third innings to earn the win, sending his team to the ALCS for the first time since 2001. The Mariners will now compete against the Blue Jays for the championship in a showdown between 1977 expansion brethren. The series opener is scheduled for Sunday in Toronto. Final Inning Game-Winning Sequence JP Crawford started the bottom of the 15th with a line-drive single to right field. Another batter was hit by a pitch, putting players on first and second. After Cal Raleigh made an out, a fielding mistake by the center fielder allowed the runner to take third. Following an intentional walk, the batter connected on a 3-2 pitch to conclude the contest. Key Runs and Pitching Performances Kerry Carpenter accounted for all of the visitors' scoring with a home run in the middle frames. Seattle tied it at 2-2 in the seventh on a substitute batter's run-scoring hit. Both teams threatened multiple times in overtime, with the Mariners grounding into inning-ending double plays in both the later extra innings. Opening Hurlers Battle The Tigers' ace and George Kirby delivered a pitchers' duel in the early innings. The left-hander, a Cy Young Award favorite, allowed a single score on a couple of hits with no walks and double-digit K's over six innings. He set a postseason record with seven consecutive strikeouts. The only run came in the early going, when a double, theft, and deep out brought home a point for the home side. Kirby began with shutout frames before allowing a early hit in the sixth. After a bullpen move, the Tigers batter went deep on a pitch to hand Detroit the lead. Kirby lasted five-plus innings and was charged with one run on three hits with zero free passes and several K's. This victory signifies a significant achievement for the Mariners, who advance to compete for a spot in the championship after a extended playoff drought.