Mariners–Tigers Game 5 by the Numbers: Eight Wild Stats That Defined a 15-Inning ALDS Epic

It was exhausting and exhilarating, maddening and delirious, and by the end of it all, Game 5 of the American League Division Series between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers had entered baseball lore.

After five hours and 37 minutes of relentless tension, it became the longest winner-take-all postseason game in Major League Baseball history by innings — 15 of them, to be exact. The drama concluded only when Jorge Polanco’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 15th inning scored J.P. Crawford, sending the Mariners into the AL Championship Series and T-Mobile Park into bedlam.

For every cheer that erupted in Seattle, there was a groan in Detroit. The Tigers had their chances — plenty of them — but couldn’t convert when it mattered most. And in the cruel arithmetic of October baseball, missed chances often become winter-long regrets.

This game was a test of endurance and execution, of poise and persistence. It wasn’t just a baseball game — it was a war of attrition fought with every pitch, swing, and managerial move. And it left behind a statistical trail that’s as wild as the game itself.

Here are eight remarkable numbers that define this instant classic.

1. 15 Innings – A Record-Breaking Marathon

The final score — 2–1 Mariners — doesn’t begin to capture the scope of this contest. Spanning 15 innings, it set a record for the longest winner-take-all game in MLB postseason history.

Only six other postseason games have lasted longer by innings, but none with the stakes this high. Both teams cycled through nearly every available pitcher, emptied benches, and turned the field into a stage for survival rather than strategy.

By the time Polanco’s single dropped into right field, 43 combined strikeouts had been recorded, and every player looked like they had aged a decade.

2. 9 Straight Scoreless Innings for the Tigers

Detroit’s season ended not with a bang, but with silence. After scoring one run in the sixth inning, the Tigers went nine consecutive innings without crossing home plate.

They stranded 14 runners, including three in extra innings, as Seattle’s bullpen repeatedly escaped jams. Relievers Andrés Muñoz, Ryne Stanek, and Matt Brash combined for eight shutout innings, striking out 13 while allowing just three hits.

For a lineup that ranked among the AL’s best in clutch hitting during the regular season, Detroit’s drought was a painful and fitting final chapter.

3. 17 Pitchers Used — and None Spared

Between the two teams, 17 pitchers appeared — nine for Seattle and eight for Detroit.

Managers Scott Servais and A.J. Hinch emptied their bullpens like chess masters out of pieces, matching arms inning after inning. By the 14th, both teams were out of traditional relievers, forcing each to lean on long men and, eventually, desperation.

Seattle’s final pitcher, George Kirby, started Game 2 just three days earlier — and still managed to fire two scoreless frames to earn the win.

4. 43 Combined Strikeouts — Pure Dominance

This wasn’t just a long game. It was a pitching clinic.

The two teams combined for 43 strikeouts, the third-most ever recorded in a postseason game. Both offenses swung for the fences but found themselves consistently baffled by breaking balls and high-velocity fastballs.

Seattle’s staff set a franchise postseason record with 24 strikeouts — nearly three per inning. The Tigers weren’t far behind with 19, underscoring just how razor-thin the margins were all night.

5. 4 Missed Double Plays That Could Have Changed Everything

Postseason games hinge on execution, and both teams struggled with it defensively. Four separate double-play opportunities went unconverted, two of them by Detroit.

The most costly came in the 15th, when a potential inning-ending grounder skipped past shortstop Javier Báez, keeping the bases loaded. Two pitches later, Polanco made them pay.

It was a brutal reminder that in October, every inch counts — and sometimes, it’s the routine plays that haunt teams most.

6. 26,401 Fans Witnessed History

T-Mobile Park was filled to 26,401 strong — a raucous, restless, and roaring crowd that lived and died with every pitch.

By the 13th inning, fans were standing for every at-bat, chanting “Let’s go Mariners!” as the tension built. When Polanco’s hit landed safely, the sound was seismic.

For a franchise that has spent decades yearning for October glory, this felt like more than just a win — it was an exorcism of heartbreak and hope renewed.

7. 11 Baserunners Left in Scoring Position by Seattle — Until It Mattered Most

For all their heroics, the Mariners’ offense was far from efficient. They left 11 runners in scoring position, wasting multiple chances to end the game earlier.

But when it mattered most, their patience paid off. In the 15th inning, three straight singles loaded the bases, setting the stage for Polanco’s walk-off.

“It’s not how many chances you miss,” Polanco said afterward, drenched in champagne. “It’s about taking the last one.”

8. 1 Hero — Jorge Polanco’s Defining Moment

Acquired midseason, Polanco had been a steady but unspectacular contributor for Seattle. That all changed Friday night.

His 15th-inning single off Detroit reliever Alex Lange turned him from a quiet veteran into a postseason hero. As Crawford slid home, Polanco raised his arms, teammates poured onto the field, and the Mariners punched their ticket to the AL Championship Series — their first since 2022.

For Polanco, it was redemption. For Seattle, it was destiny.

A Game for the Ages

When historians revisit the 2025 postseason, this game will stand as a testament to resilience and resolve. It wasn’t pretty — at times, it was downright agonizing — but it was unforgettable.

The Mariners, led by a relentless pitching staff and one timely swing, survived one of the wildest elimination games ever played. The Tigers, valiant but wasteful, will head into the offseason wondering how close they truly came.

Baseball, in all its cruel beauty, delivered again.

As the clock ticked past midnight and the last fans finally left T-Mobile Park, the scoreboard told the story of one team’s triumph and another’s torment: Mariners 2, Tigers 1, 15 innings.

Epic doesn’t even begin to describe it.

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