A Night for the Ages: Mariners Advance to the ALCS in 15 Inning Marathon

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On a crisp October evening at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners delivered one of the most dramatic postseason moments in franchise history. In Game 5 of the AL Division Series, Seattle edged out the Detroit Tigers 3–2 in 15 innings, advancing to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2001.

This wasn’t just a win — it was an epic: the longest winner-take-all postseason game ever played. The marathon lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes, featured 472 total pitches from both teams, and saw 15 pitchers deployed.

Heroics in Relief & Clutch at the Plate

Jorge Polanco will forever be etched in Mariners lore. With one out and the bases loaded in the 15th inning, he laced a full-count changeup from Tommy Kahnle to right field, driving in J.P. Crawford for the walk-off run.

Crawford had been on base by virtue of a leadoff single; Seattle had also loaded the bases via a hit-by-pitch (on Randy Arozarena) and an intentional walk to Julio Rodríguez.

But the night’s story wasn’t just about the final blow — it was about grinding, resisting, refusing to yield. Seattle left 12 runners on base, and during extra innings, squandered prime chances multiple times (including runners in scoring position in the 10th, 12th, and 13th). Still, the bullpen — especially Eduard Bazardo and Luis Castillo — held firm.

Luis Castillo, in fact, earned the win in his first MLB relief appearance. Logan Gilbert (usually a starter) threw two scoreless innings in relief.

On the Tigers’ side, Tarik Skubal was brilliant: 13 strikeouts across 6 innings of one-run ball. But Detroit, despite its strong outing, simply couldn’t finish off Seattle when it mattered most.

Another unforgettable moment: in the 7th inning, the Mariners rallied to tie the game at 2 via Leo Rivas’ pinch-hit single — his first ever postseason hit — celebrated on his 28th birthday.

Context, Implications & What’s Next

This marks Seattle’s first trip to the ALCS in 24 years.
Their opponent: the Toronto Blue Jays, winners of the AL East. The ALCS is set to begin in Toronto.
Interestingly, Seattle struggled against Toronto in the regular season, having dropped four of six matchups.
Manager Dan Wilson praised the team’s resilience: “incredible ballgame from top to bottom,” he said. Catcher Cal Raleigh summed up the squad’s mentality: “Everyone put their other stuff aside and did everything for the team.”