Mariners Edge Tigers 3-2 in 15-Inning ALDS Epic, MLB Postseason Record Set

The Seattle Mariners punched their ticket to the American League Championship Series with a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in 15 innings at T-Mobile Park, ending the longest winner-take-all postseason game in MLB history and capping a stunning turnaround for a Tigers team that held baseball's best record at the All-Star break. Friday's marathon contest, which concluded at 1:47 AM PT after 15 innings of tension, saw Jorge Polanco, infielder for the Seattle Mariners deliver a walk-off single off Tommy Kahnle, relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, scoring J.P. Crawford with the winning run. Detroit's season ended in heartbreak for the second straight year, while Seattle extended its home playoff winning streak to five games.

Here's the thing: this wasn't just another extra-innings game. When the final out came at 5 hours and 57 minutes past the 7:30 PM start, it shattered the previous record for longest winner-take-all postseason game by 43 minutes. The Tigers had been seven outs away from their first ALCS berth since 2013 before the clock pushed past midnight. For Detroit fans still reeling from their September collapse, it felt like history repeating itself - particularly with the ghost of their 2009 AL Central tiebreaker loss haunting the late innings.

Skubal's Historic Night and the Tigers' Fading Hope

Tarik Skubal, starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers delivered what might have been the most dominant pitching performance ever in a losing effort. The 28-year-old left-hander - who spent one season at Seattle University before turning pro - set an MLB postseason record with seven consecutive strikeouts across the second and third innings. He didn't allow a single baserunner through five scoreless frames, only exiting when his pitch count hit 84. Oddly enough, his heroic showing earned a no-decision while the Tigers' offense went ice cold.

The turning point came in the sixth inning when Kerry Carpenter, outfielder for the Detroit Tigers launched a two-run homer off left-handed reliever Gabe Speier, giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. But that would be their last offensive highlight. The Tigers finished the night 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base - including stranding two runners in the eighth, 11th, and 12th innings. The final cruel moment came when Zach McKinstry got thrown out at home plate with two runners in scoring position and nobody out in the 12th.

"We just couldn't push that one extra run," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch admitted afterward, his voice hoarse from the marathon. "This team fought all year, but tonight the hits didn't fall when we needed them." That sentiment echoed what MLB.com had reported all season: Detroit's offensive struggles 'haunted them from September into the postseason' after they lost their AL Central lead in the final month.

Mariners Seize Moment After Historic Marathon

While Polanco delivered the walk-off, the real story was Seattle's resilience. After Mitch Garver's sacrifice fly gave them a 1-0 lead in the second inning, the Mariners went silent for eight innings. But they refused to fold, with the bullpen eating up 10 innings of scoreless relief. The decisive moment came when Crawford, who had reached on a two-out single, stole second base in the 15th - a gamble that paid off when Polanco lined Kahnle's 95 mph fastball into center field.

The celebration was delayed by a review - but when it came, the remaining 15,000 fans who hadn't deserted T-Mobile Park (down from the 47,000 capacity crowd at first pitch) created a deafening roar. "I've never felt anything like that," said Mariners manager Scott Servais, who watched the final out from the dugout steps. "This team embodies what Seattle sports is all about - grinding it out until the very end."

It's worth noting how the Tigers' collapse set the stage. They began 2025 with MLB's best record at the All-Star break (63-38) but went 24-37 after the break, costing them the AL Central. They had to win a Wild Card Series in Cleveland just to reach this ALDS - a journey that clearly drained them. Meanwhile, Seattle's 90-72 regular season as AL West champions gave them home-field advantage that proved crucial.

From Best to Bust: Tigers' Disappointing Exit

For Detroit fans, this loss reopened wounds that never fully healed. The Tigers had been seven outs away from the ALCS before the game stretched into extra innings - and the timing couldn't have been worse. This marks their second consecutive Game 5 loss in the ALDS, following their 2024 exit. But it also evoked painful memories of the 2009 AL Central tiebreaker game in Minneapolis, where they lost 6-5 to the Twins in 13 innings after holding a lead.

"It's hard to process," said Tigers veteran catcher Jake Rogers, his jersey still damp from the late-night downpour. "We had everything in our hands. At 8:00 PM, we were 21 outs from the ALCS." The numbers tell the real story: Detroit stranded 10 runners compared to Seattle's 8, but crucially, the Mariners cashed in when it mattered most with Polanco's clutch hit.

Behind the scenes, the Tigers' front office faces tough questions. Principal owner Christopher Ilitch and GM Al Avila must now address whether their September fade was a fluke or systemic. The team's inability to score in clutch situations - they finished 14th in MLB in late-inning scoring - can't be ignored after two straight playoff exits.

What's Next for Both Franchises

The Mariners now face the winner of the Orioles-Yankees ALDS in the ALCS starting October 15. They've built momentum with five straight home playoff wins at T-Mobile Park - which opened in 1999 as Safeco Field and was renamed in 2019. With young stars like 26-year-old right-hander George Kirby (who started Game 1) leading the rotation, Seattle believes they can reach their first World Series since 2001.

For Detroit, the offseason starts immediately. Their next game comes on Opening Day 2026 - March 27 against the White Sox. The Tigers must address their offensive shortcomings while hoping Skubal (a 2025 Cy Young candidate) and Carpenter (26 years old) can build on promising seasons. CBS Sports analysts Jim Bowden and Will Middlebrooks noted during their 12:01 AM ET recap that Detroit's young core gives hope, but the clock is ticking for this window to close.

Turns out, this 15-inning epic wasn't just about one game. It's become a defining moment for both franchises - Seattle's relentless rise versus Detroit's heartbreaking fall from grace. The final out may have come at 1:47 AM, but for Tigers fans, it'll feel like midnight for months to come.