Jorge Polanco sends the Mariners to the Championship Series with a decisive hit

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SEATTLE. – Jorge Polanco became the hero by hitting a golden single in the 15th inning, giving the Seattle Mariners a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers, thus securing their place in the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2001. The dramatic triumph occurred on Friday night at T-Mobile Park, before a crowd that erupted in jubilation after more than five hours of intense baseball. Seattle took the lead early against the Tigers' ace, Tarik Skubal, but Kerry Carpenter turned the scoreboard around with a home run in the sixth inning. However, the "birthday boy" Leo Rivas tied the game with a run-scoring single as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. The duel remained tied for eight more innings, until finally Polanco hit the decisive hit that sent the Mariners to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). The Seattle team, which hadn't advanced to this stage in 24 years, will now seek to continue its historic postseason with the aim of reaching its first World Series

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JORGE POLANCO WINS IT IN THE 15TH INNING!

THE @MARINERS ARE HEADING TO THE ALCS!!! pic.twitter.com/IEb6DLrHaY

— MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2025

The encounter, the longest by innings in MLB postseason history, was a true battle of pitching and endurance. Detroit's opener, Tarik Skubal, gave a glimpse of why he is the current American League Cy Young winner, by striking out 13 batters in six innings and setting a record by fanning seven in a row. In addition, he became the first postseason pitcher in history with more than 10 strikeouts and no walks in the first four innings.