ALCS Bound: Mariners Defeat Tigers in Game 5 Thriller

ALCS Bound: Mariners Defeat Tigers in Game 5 Thriller
Mariners stun Tigers in 15th, advance to ALCS



The Seattle Mariners defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in a thrilling 15-inning Game 5, advancing to the American League Championship Series.


The game was a pitchers' duel, with 15 hurlers involved, 472 pitches thrown, and 37 strikeouts recorded...


The Seattle Mariners made history with a thrilling 3-2 walk-off victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the ALDS. Jorge Polanco's single in the bottom of the 15th inning scored J.P. Crawford, sending the Mariners to the American League Championship Series.




Polanco's game-winning hit came after a tense sequence, with Crawford reaching base on a single and Randy Arozarena drawing a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with one out. The Mariners' victory marked their first ALCS appearance since 2001.




The win sets up a best-of-seven series against the Toronto Blue Jays, who are looking to exorcise their own playoff demons. The Blue Jays haven't advanced past the ALCS since winning consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. The stage is set for an exciting series between two teams eager to make a deep playoff run.




Cal Raleigh's deep fly ball to center field resulted in the first out but allowed both runners to advance. With the bases loaded and one out, Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle faced a critical situation as Julio Rodriguez stepped up to the plate. However, Kahnle opted to walk Rodriguez, loading the bases further and setting the stage for Jorge Polanco's dramatic walk-off hit.




In the end, it was Polanco who emerged as the hero, delivering a clutch hit that sent the Mariners to the ALCS for the first time in 24 years. The city of Seattle erupted in celebration as the team joyfully marked their spot in the championship series.


Game Recap

The Seattle Mariners' victory was sparked by a strong pitching performance, highlighted by Skubal's record-breaking seven consecutive strikeouts between the third and fifth innings. Skubal finished with 13 strikeouts, the most in a winner-takes-all postseason game, and set another record for most strikeouts in a single postseason game.


Skubal's impressive outing helped the Mariners secure a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the ALDS. Mitch Garver got the Mariners on the board with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, and the team held on to the lead thanks to Skubal's dominant performance, allowing just one run on two hits over six innings.


Seattle's George Kirby matched up well with Detroit's Tarik Skubal, pitching five scoreless innings on three hits with six strikeouts and no walks. However, after surrendering a double to Tigers' Javier Báez, Kirby was relieved by Gabe Speier.


The game took a dramatic turn when Detroit's Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run home run off Speier, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. This pivotal moment shifted the momentum in favor of the Tigers, but the Mariners would eventually regain control in the bottom of the 15th inning.


Leo Rivas's postseason debut was nothing short of magical. Pinch-hitting for Dominic Canzone in the seventh inning, Rivas delivered an RBI single on his first-ever MLB postseason at-bat, tying the game. To make the moment even more special, it was Rivas's birthday.



Tense Extra Innings

The 10th inning was a nail-biter, with Seattle's Victor Robles doubling with no outs. However, his teammates couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, and Detroit's rookie reliever Troy Melton skillfully navigated the jam with a pop-out, strikeout, and groundout, keeping the game tied.


Defensive Stand

Detroit's Kerry Carpenter reached second base in the 11th inning after a passed ball by Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, but the Mariners' defense held strong, preventing him from scoring. The Tigers had another scoring opportunity in the 12th inning with bases loaded, but Seattle pitcher Eduard Bazardo came through, stranding the runners and keeping the game tied.


Detroit reliever Keider Montero's attempt to pick off Leo Rivas at first base ended in disaster, as an overthrow allowed Rivas to advance to second. Montero then hit Victor Robles, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Although J.P. Crawford's shallow fly out to left field gave the Tigers a glimmer of hope, they capitalized on the opportunity by turning a double play to end the 13th inning without scoring.


The controversy surrounding Montero hitting Robles was later clarified after review, confirming the ball hit Robles and wasn't a foul ball off the bat. Despite the Tigers' defensive play in the 13th, they couldn't prevent the Mariners from eventually walking off in the bottom of the 15th inning.



13th Inning Showdown

Eduard Bazardo shut down the Tigers in the 13th inning, striking out the side and setting the stage for a potential walk-off. In the bottom of the inning, Tigers reliever Jack Flaherty struggled to contain the Mariners, issuing back-to-back walks to Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez. Although he struck out Jorge Polanco and got Eugenio Suarez to ground into a double play, the Mariners' persistence paid off in the 15th inning.



Historic Pitching Efforts

The 14th inning saw Mariners starter Luis Castillo make his major league debut in relief, marking a first in his career. The game had already become the longest winner-take-all contest in MLB postseason history, with over 400 pitches thrown. Despite the grueling pace, both teams' pitchers continued to dig deep, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion in the 15th inning.




The game was a pitchers' duel, with 15 hurlers involved, 472 pitches thrown, and 37 strikeouts recorded. Despite their strong performance, the Tigers struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. In contrast, the Mariners managed 2-for-11 in similar situations.




Offensively, Josh Naylor led the Mariners with a 3-for-4 day, while Kerry Carpenter had a standout performance for the Tigers, going 4-for-5 with a crucial two-run home run. The game's statistics highlighted the teams' contrasting fortunes, with the Mariners ultimately emerging victorious in the 15th inning.

No comments:

Leave comment here

Powered by Blogger.