Mariners outlast Tigers in historic 15-inning walk-off win for first ALCS appearance in 24 years

Douglas Santo

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Mariners outlast Tigers in historic 15-inning walk-off win for first ALCS appearance in 24 years image

The Seattle Mariners are headed to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2001 after outlasting the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Friday night.

The Tigers and Mariners fought, neck and neck, for 14 innings before the Mariners finally came through with the big hit off the bat of second baseman Jorge Polanco to get the 3-2 victory in 15 innings.

The Tigers-Mariners 15-inning Game 5 was the longest winner-take-all game in MLB postseason history, according to OptaSTATS, and that was just the start of the history made in Seattle on Friday night.

Tigers, Mariners Play Historic Game 5

Not only was Game 5 of the ALDS the longest postseason winner-take-all game in MLB history, but the Mariners win made it the first time Seattle will be back in the ALCS in 24 years.

That was in 2001, which was also the last time the Mariners won the AL West. Now, Seattle has a chance to make it to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Although it was a historic night in the end for the Mariners, there were plenty of highlights throughout the night as well.

Tigers' starter Tarik Skubal pitched incredible, going six innings and allowing just one run, while collecting 13 strikeouts. The Tigers' ace became the first pitcher in MLB history to have multiple 13 strikeout games in the same postseason, according to OptaSTATS.

Then in the batter's box, Tigers' outfielder Kerry Carpenter became the first player to reach base five times, including a home run, in a winner-take-all postseason game since Babe Ruth did it in 1926, according to OptaSTATS.

Then in extra innings, Seattle Mariners' starting pitcher Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert came out of the bullpen. Castillo hadn't pitched out of the bullpen since 2016 in the minor leagues, and Gilbert hadn't come out of the bullpen since his college baseball days.

Game 5 of the ALDS was full of historic performances and crazy occurrences, but that's what happens in 15 innings of postseason baseball.

The game was one for the ages, and although only one team can move on, both teams put on a fantastic show for fans around the world.

The Tigers season came to an end on Friday night, and Mariners clinched their first trip to the ALCS in 24 years, where they'll face the Toronto Blue Jays with a trip to the World Series on the line.

Douglas Santo

Douglas Santo is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. As a senior at Arizona State University, he will complete his B.A. in sports journalism with a minor in business in December 2025. Before his time with Sporting News, Douglas covered the NFL and MLB for Athlon Sports and contributed as a digital reporter for Arizona PBS/Cronkite News. He is also the head of Sun Devil Daily, managing all content produced about Arizona State Sports.