Through a gripping 15-inning contest, Jorge Polanco drove in the decisive score with a base hit to right field, sealing a narrow victory for the Seattle Mariners over the visiting squad in the decisive game of the American League Division Series.
Luis Castillo, delivering his initial bullpen outing in the big leagues, threw one and one-third innings to earn the win, propelling his team to the AL Championship Series for the initial occasion in over two decades.
The Mariners will now face the Toronto for the championship in a contest between franchise brethren. Game 1 is set for the weekend in the Blue Jays' home.
A Tigers hitter accounted for all of the visitors' offense with a home run in the sixth inning.
The Mariners tied it at two runs apiece in the seventh on a pinch hitter's RBI single.
Both teams threatened repeatedly in extra innings, with the home team grounding into twin killings in both the later extra innings.
Tarik Skubal and George Kirby delivered a low-scoring battle in the early innings.
The left-hander, a Cy Young Award favorite, allowed a single score on two hits with no walks and double-digit K's over multiple frames. He established a postseason record with back-to-back K's.
His sole allowed score came in the second inning, when a double, theft, and sacrifice fly brought home a run for the Mariners.
Kirby began with shutout frames before surrendering a early hit in the sixth. After a bullpen move, the Tigers batter went deep on a pitch to hand the visitors the lead.
Kirby lasted five-plus innings and was responsible for one run on a few hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
The win marks a major milestone for the Mariners, who move forward to compete for a place in the World Series after a long playoff drought.
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