Tigers Stun Mariners in Nail-Biting 12-Inning Thriller to Claim ALDS Game 1 Victory

After what felt like an eternity stretched over 11 innings and a marathon of 15 pitchers juggling the mound, the curtain finally fell on Game 1 of the ALDS showdown between the Tigers and Mariners. And guess what? The Tigers snagged a nail-biting 3-2 win right in Seattle, flipping the script with a pivotal road victory that no one saw slipping away that easy. The game started with a tight duel — three innings of pitch perfect silence on the scoreboard. Then Julio Rodriguez cracked the deadlock with a solo homer, lighting up the Mariners’ dugout. But the Tigers weren’t just going to sit back. One inning later, Kerry Carpenter blasted a two-run homer off Mariners starter George Kirby, tipping the scales in Detroit’s favor. The drama didn’t stop there. Rodriguez struck again with a clutch RBI single, leveling the score at 2-2. That stalemate held hostage for the next four innings as bullpens on both squads locked horns. Then, in the extra innings, Zach McKinstry stepped up big with an RBI single that pushed Spencer Torkelson home, finally breaking the deadlock. Keider Montero held the fort for Detroit with a solid save, sealing a hard-fought opener victory for the Tigers. Buckle up—the next chapter of this series kicks off Sunday night. LEARN MORE

It took 11 innings and a combined 15 pitchers to reach a conclusion in Game 1 of Tigers vs. Mariners in the ALDS. But in the end, the Tigers came out on top with a crucial 3-2 road win in Seattle.

Both teams were scoreless through three innings in the pitching battle. Julio Rodriguez broke through in the bottom of the fourth, putting the Mariners on the board with a solo homer. In the next inning, Mariners starter George Kirby allowed a two-run homer from Kerry Carpenter, pulling the Tigers to a 2-1 lead.

Detroit held that lead for an inning before Rodriguez struck again with a sixth-inning RBI single that sent Randy Arozarena home for the game-tying run.

The score stayed at 2-2 until for the next four innings as both bullpens battled. Andrés Muñoz, Seattle’s All-Star closer, got six straight outs in the ninth and 10th, but the Mariners weren’t able to deliver on offense, with Tigers reliever Will Vest matching Muñoz with two scoreless innings of his own.

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In the 11th, the Tigers finally cashed in on an opportunity, with Zach McKinstry’s RBI single bringing Spencer Torkelson home for the go-ahead run.

Keider Montero, the seventh reliever for Detroit on the night, held on for the save to give the Tigers a key victory to start the series. Game 2 begins at 8:03 p.m. ET Sunday.