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It took 24 years, but the Seattle Mariners are finally returning to the American League Championship Series by virtue of Jorge Polanco's 15th-inning walk-off single against the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the Division Series on Friday night.
The playoff epic lasted 472 pitches and nearly five hours. Fortunately, the Mariners have an off day to fly across the continent for Sunday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Facing veteran Tigers reliever Tommy Kahnle with the bases loaded in the 15th inning, Polanco sent a 3-2 changeup into right field to score Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford and seal the 3-2 victory. Crawford reached on a leadoff single, Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch and Julio Rodríguez was intentionally walked before Polanco's big swing on the 472nd pitch of an epic Game 5 in a tightly contested Division Series.
The Mariners left 12 runners on base and still managed to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2001.
'We never give up. We just keep fighting. It doesn't matter how many innings we play,' Polanco said. 'We just stay ready and wait for the moment. It's going to come. It was my time.'
Jorge Polanco #7 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting the game-winning RBI single
Seattle Mariners players celebrate with second baseman Jorge Polanco after his walk-off
T-Mobile Park erupted after five ours, 15 innings and 472 pitches on Friday night
Luis Castillo pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win in his first major league relief appearance. Logan Gilbert, another member of Seattle's rotation, worked two scoreless innings in his first relief outing since his college days at Stetson University in 2017.
'It was such a tough night,' Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh said. 'Everyone put their other stuff side and did everything for the team, including Logan and Luis.'
Detroit wasted a stellar performance by Tarik Skubal, who struck out 13 while pitching six innings of one-run ball. The Tigers went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
Skubal stepped up with Detroit trying for the franchise’s first appearance in the AL Championship Series since 2013. He struck out 13 while allowing one run and two hits in what turned out to be the longest winner-take-all postseason game by innings.
Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run homer for the Tigers in the sixth, and Leo Rivas responded with a pinch-hit RBI single for the Mariners in the seventh. Jorge Polanco ended it with an RBI single in the 15th.
