The Mariners advance to their first ALCS since 2001 with a 15-inning win
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If you tuned in to the decisive Game 5 between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers, it was worth every second.
In a game that lasted nearly five hours and ended just after 1 a.m. ET, the Mariners are headed to their first American League Championship Series in 24 years with a 3-2 win in a 15-inning marathon.
Both teams remained scoreless from the top of the eighth to the top of the 15th, but the Mariners finally rallied on Jorge Polanco’s bases-loaded single to send them to the ALCS and end the longest winner-takes-all game in history.
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Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco (7) is celebrated by teammates after a home run single against the Detroit Tigers during the 15th inning during Game 5 of the American League Division Series at T-Mobile Park. (Steven Bisig/Imagine Images)
Detroit wasted a great performance by Tarik Skubal, who struck out 13 while pitching six innings of one-run ball. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner was soon taken out of the game with a 2-1 lead, and the Tigers quickly allowed a tying run in the seventh inning.
It didn’t help that the Tigers went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base, with their only run coming on a two-run home run by Kerry Carpenter in the sixth. Seattle was no better, leaving dozens of people behind, but they were the ones who arrived.
The phrase “all available in October” has been put to good use. After both starters, George Kirby and Skubal, left the game, three more pitchers were used. The Tigers had Jack Flaherty go two innings on two days’ rest, while Logan Gilbert (also two days) and Luis Castillo, the winning pitcher, both got some action.
Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco hits a single against the Detroit Tigers during the 15th inning of Game 5 of the American League Division Series at T-Mobile Park. (Steven Bisig/Imagine Images)
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“I know we played a long game, but this team never gave up,” Polanco said. “I know there’s a lot of emotions, but we always try to keep it simple. I just try to go out and play and try to get a win.”
“It’s just an amazing ballgame from top to bottom,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.
“It was a tough night,” Seattle’s Cal Raleigh said. “Everyone put their heart and soul out there and did everything for the team, including Logan and Lewis.” It was Gilbert’s first relief outing since 2017, when he was at Stetson University.
Detroit’s season officially ended on a sour note with a touch of what could have been, as this series was probably supposed to happen at Michigan. The Tigers held a double-digit lead in the AL Central in early September but squandered it. They salvaged that by beating the Cleveland Guardians, who hosted the Wild Card Series after passing Detroit in the standings, but that’s certainly how they envision it now to go home.
Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Green watches Seattle Mariners players celebrate on the field as he walks off after the Tigers lose 3-2 in 15 innings at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Friday, October 10, 2025. (Junfu Han/USA Today Network via Imagen Images)
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The Mariners would now face the Toronto Blue Jays for the pennant, and an entire generation of fans would see one of these teams in the World Series for the first time. The Blue Jays haven’t been to the Fall Classic since 1993, while the Mariners have never made it past the ALCS.
The first game will take place on Sunday in Toronto at 8:03 PM ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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