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

When Mariners edged the Detroit Tigers 3‑2 in a 15‑inning Game 5 at T‑Mobile Park, Seattle, pitcher Tarik Skubal delivered a historic 13‑strikeout effort, sealing a 3‑2 series win and a trip to the American League Championship Series.

Series Overview

The 2025 American League Division Series followed the classic 2‑2‑1 format, with the higher‑seeded Mariners hosting Games 1, 2 and 5 in Seattle while the Tigers welcomed Games 3 and 4 at Comerica Park in Detroit. Both clubs entered the postseason with strong regular‑season numbers: Seattle finished 90‑72, dominating the AL West, and Detroit posted a 87‑75 record to land second in the AL Central, just one game behind the Cleveland Guardians.

Game‑by‑Game Recap

Game 1 on October 5 saw the Tigers pull a 3‑2 extra‑innings win in Seattle, courtesy of a clutch single by Zach McKinstry that drove in the go‑ahead run in the 11th. Seattle answered back in Game 2 on October 6, eking out a 3‑2 victory that evened the series. The series shifted to Detroit for Games 3 and 4. The Mariners broke the tie with an 8‑4 triumph on October 8, highlighted by solid pitching and timely hitting. The Tigers responded on October 9, routing Seattle 9‑3 to force a decisive Game 5.

Game 5: The Marathon

The winner‑take‑all showdown began with a quiet second inning when Mitch Garver lifted a sacrifice fly to center, plating first‑baseman Josh Naylor. Seattle kept the pressure on, and in the sixth, Carson Carpenter slugged a 411‑foot homer that brought home Tigers star Javier Báez, cutting the lead to 2‑1. Julio Rodríguez’s seventh‑inning single tied the game at two, as J.P. Crawford scored and Naylor advanced to second. The duel stayed deadlocked through nine innings, pushing both benches into overtime. In the 15th, J.P. Polanco delivered the decisive blow—a single to right that rode home Cal Raleigh from third, sealing a 3‑2 Mariners win and the series.

Key Performances and Records

Tarik Skubal set a postseason milestone by striking out seven consecutive batters in the early innings and finishing with 13 strikeouts, the most ever recorded in a winner‑take‑all playoff game. “I just tried to stay aggressive and trust my instincts,” Skubal said after the game. The Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch, 61, drew praise for his bullpen moves earlier in the series, most notably the gutsy decision to bring in Kyle Finnegan with the bases loaded in Game 4—a play that produced a critical double play.

What This Means for the ALCS

Seattle’s victory sets up a clash with the winner of the other ALDS matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros. The American League Championship Series is slated to begin on October 14, with the higher seed hosting Game 1. For the Mariners, it marks their first ALCS appearance since 2001, reviving a fanbase that has waited over two decades for a deep postseason run.

Historical Context

The Mariners have historically struggled in October, missing the playoffs entirely between 2002 and 2022. Their 2025 run, bolstered by a veteran core and an emerging young talent pool, signals a possible shift. In contrast, the Tigers have not reached the ALCS since 2006, making this series a bittersweet reminder of their recent resurgence but also of the fine line between a win and a loss in the playoffs.

• Series result: Mariners 3, Tigers 2
• Game 5 final score: 3‑2 (15 innings)
• Tarik Skubal strikeouts: 13 (postseason record for winner‑take‑all game)
• Key home run: Carson Carpenter, 411 ft, Game 5
• ALCS start date: October 14, 2025