The Detroit Tigers outlasted the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings to take Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series.
Zach McKinstry’s RBI single against Carlos Vargas in the top of the 11th was the difference in Detroit’s 3-2 win at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The Mariners got on the board first with Julio Rodriguez’s solo home run in the fourth inning, but the Tigers went in front on Kerry Carpenter’s two-run homer off George Kirby in the top of the fifth. Seattle tied the game 2-2 in the sixth on Rodriguez’s RBI single and neither team could score in the final three innings, becoming the first extra-inning game of the 2025 postseason.
Game 2 is set for 8:03 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 5 with the series heading to Detroit for Games 3 and 4 (if necessary).
Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded:
Zach McKinstry puts Tigers in front in extra innings
Carlos Vargas came in to pitch the 11th for the Mariners, issuing a leadoff walk to Spencer Torkelson and then followed with a wild pitch to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Vargas struck out Winceel Perez and Dillon Dinger, but Zach McKinstry hit a two-out RBI single to plate Torkelson and give Detroit the lead.
MLB playoff extra innings rules
The Mariners and Tigers remain after nine and will be the first game in the 2025 postseason to extra innings.
Major League Baseball’s extra innings format is different in the playoffs from the regular season, getting rid of the ‘ghost runner’ starting on second base once a game goes beyond nine innings.
Unlike the previous six months of baseball, extra innings in the postseason will not feature the free runner.
Mariners tie it up in the sixth
Clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the seventh, Detroit reliever Rafael Montero issued a leadoff walk to Randy Arozarena then back-to-back singles by Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, the latter driving in the tying run. Montero was replaced after failing to retire a batter and Tyler Holton got Josh Naylor to ground into a double play then Jorge Polanco to line out to keep the game tied.
Kerry Carpenter home run gives Tigers the lead
Detroit finally got on the board with Kerry Carpenter’s two-run homer off George Kirby in the top of the fifth, taking a 2-1 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
Carpenter set a career high with 26 home runs in the regular season.
Julio Rodriguez home run puts Mariners in front
Julio Rodriguez hit a solo homer off Troy Melton in the bottom of the fourth to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.
Rodriguez had 32 home runs, 95 RBIs and 30 steals in the regular season, the second 30-30 campaign of his four-year career.
Tigers waste leadoff double in third
Gleyber Torres began the top of the third with a double off George Kirby, but the right-hander got Kerry Carpenter to line out to center and struck out Riley Greene before Spencer Torkelson flew out to left to end the inning. The Tigers are already 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
George Kirby escapes in second inning
Colt Keith singled and Dillon Dingler walked to start the top of the second against George Kirby, but the right-hander struck out Zack McKinstry, induced a Javier Baez groundout and whiffed Parker Meadows to end the threat with runners on second and third.
Tigers ALDS roster
Catchers (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers.
Infielders (7): Javier Báez, Andy Ibáñez, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres.
Outfielders (5): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez.
Right-handed pitchers (9): Kyle Finnegan, Jack Flaherty, Brenan Hanifee, Tommy Kahnle, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Rafael Montero, Will Vest.
Left-handed pitchers (3): Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tarik Skubal
Mariners playoff roster
Catchers: Harry Ford, Mitch Garver, Cal Raleigh
Infielders: J.P. Crawford, Josh Naylor, Jorge Polanco, Leo Rivas, Eugenio Suarez, Ben Williamson
Outfielders: Randy Arozarena, Dominic Canzone, Victor Robles, Julio Rodriguez
Utility: Luke Raley
Left-handed pitchers: Caleb Ferguson, Gabe Speier
Right-handed pitchers: Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, Luke Jackson, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Andres Munoz, Carlos Vargas
Tigers lineup
Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Kerry Carpenter (L) RF
Riley Greene (L) LF
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Colt Keith (L) DH
Dillon Dingler (R) C
Zach McKinstry (L) 3B
Javier Báez (R) SS
Parker Meadows (L) CF
Mariners lineup
Randy Arozarena (R) LF
Cal Raleigh (S) C
Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
Josh Naylor (L) 1B
Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
Dominic Canzone (L) DH
Victor Robles (R) RF
J.P. Crawford (L) SS