The Seattle Mariners finally gave their home fans something to celebrate, earning their first postseason victory at T-Mobile Park in 24 years with a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday night. The win evened the American League Division Series at one game apiece.
Second baseman Jorge Polanco was the difference-maker, launching two home runs off Tigers ace and likely Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. The pair of blasts accounted for two of Seattle’s three runs and marked the first time since 2021 that Skubal allowed two home runs to the same player in a single game.
Right-hander Luis Castillo was sharp for the Mariners, holding Detroit to one hit across 4 2/3 innings before the bullpen took over. After the Tigers came back to tie the game in the top of the eighth, Seattle's stars answered right back in the bottom of the frame. Cal Raleigh doubled followed by another from Julio Rodriguez, driving in the go-ahead run. Closer Andrés Muñoz then pitched a scoreless ninth to lock down the save.
For the Mariners, the win marked their first postseason home victory since 2001, a drought that spanned more than two decades and multiple rebuilds. Seattle had reached the playoffs only twice since then — in 2022 and this season. Their 2022 run ended in heartbreak when they were swept by the Houston Astros in the Division Series, with all three losses decided by four total runs.
With the series now tied, the Mariners will head to Comerica Park in Detroit for Game 3 on Tuesday, looking to seize a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five series.