Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners: ALDS Game 5 Review – October 10, 2025
In an epic postseason battle that will go down in baseball history, the Seattle Mariners defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in a marathon 15-inning contest at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Friday, October 10, 2025. This winner-take-all Game 5 of the American League Division Series was the longest elimination game in MLB postseason history, spanning 472 pitches and nearly six hours of intense baseball.
Game Summary
The pitching duel between Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and Seattle’s George Kirby dominated the early innings, with both starters delivering exceptional performances. Skubal was particularly dominant, setting two postseason records with seven consecutive strikeouts and finishing with 13 strikeouts overall – the most ever recorded in a winner-take-all elimination game.
The Tigers broke through first when Kerry Carpenter launched a two-run homer off Mariners reliever Gabe Speier in the sixth inning, putting Detroit ahead 2-0. Carpenter’s performance was historic – he finished with four hits and two walks, becoming the first player since Babe Ruth in 1926 to reach base five times and hit a home run in a winner-take-all playoff game.
Seattle battled back in the seventh when Leo Rivas, celebrating his 28th birthday, delivered a clutch pinch-hit single to left field that scored Jorge Polanco, tying the game at 2-2.
Extra Innings Drama
What followed was an extraordinary battle of bullpens and missed opportunities. The Mariners had runners in scoring position with no outs in the 10th, 12th, and 13th innings but failed to capitalize each time. Meanwhile, Detroit threatened seriously in the 12th inning with runners on second and third with one out, but Zach McKinstry was thrown out at home on Javier Báez’s grounder to third base.
The game’s decisive moment finally arrived in the bottom of the 15th. J.P. Crawford hit a leadoff single, Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch, and Julio Rodríguez was intentionally walked to load the bases. With one out, Jorge Polanco delivered the walk-off hit – a line drive single to right field off Tigers reliever Tommy Kahnle that scored Crawford and sent T-Mobile Park into a frenzy.
Pitching Brilliance
Beyond Skubal’s record-setting performance, the Mariners showed their pitching depth and flexibility by using starting pitchers in relief roles. Luis Castillo earned the win by pitching 1⅓ scoreless innings in his first major league relief appearance, while fellow starter Logan Gilbert contributed two crucial scoreless innings – his first relief outing since his college days.
Historical Significance
The victory sends the Mariners to their first American League Championship Series since 2001, where they’ll face the Toronto Blue Jays beginning Sunday night in Toronto. For the Tigers, the heartbreaking loss extends their drought without an ALCS appearance since 2013.
T-Mobile Park was electric throughout the contest, with fans remaining on the edge of their seats through all 15 innings of this instant classic. The atmosphere reached its peak when Polanco delivered the game-winning hit, triggering a celebration that released hours of built-up tension and anticipation.
This unforgettable Game 5 showcased postseason baseball at its finest – exceptional pitching, clutch hitting, defensive brilliance, and the kind of drama that only October baseball can provide.