Tigers stun Mariners with extra-innings win
The Detroit Tigers took the opening game of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, scoring the go-ahead run in the 11th inning.
The Detroit Tigers needed one run in the top of the 11th and a dominant closing effort to steal home-field advantage from the Seattle Mariners, the AL West champions.
Game 2 of the ALDS between Seattle and Detroit will be played tomorrow at 8:03 p.m. ET. The Mariners will need to make the most of their home crowd at T-Mobile Park if they want to keep their American League Championship Series hopes alive.
Julio Rodríguez shines, but it’s not enough
Julio Rodríguez opened the scoring in the fourth inning, electrifying T-Mobile Park with a solo home run to center field. The Dominican star jumped on a high fastball from Troy Melton, launching it 413 feet at 109.5 mph off the bat.
Seattle’s joy was short-lived. In the top of the fifth, Kerry Carpenter flipped the score with a two-run homer that brought Parker Meadows around from first. The right fielder’s blast to right field spoiled George Kirby’s outing and put Detroit ahead 2–1.
Rodríguez, Seattle’s second-best hitter after Cal Raleigh, tied the game again in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single. The native of Loma de Cabrera lined a rocket into right field to drive in Randy Arozarena.
Detroit takes control in extra innings
Pitching dominated the final stretch, forcing extra innings. Both bullpens held firm until the 11th, when Carlos Vargas issued a walk to Spencer Torkelson. A wild pitch moved Torkelson to second, and moments later Zach McKinstry singled to center, allowing him to score the winning run and make it 3–2 Tigers.
Arozarena, Raleigh, and Rodríguez came up in the bottom half looking to rally Seattle, but they couldn’t deliver. Arozarena and Raleigh were retired, and though J-Rod reached on a single, cleanup hitter Josh Naylor couldn’t bring him home. The Tigers held on to shock the Mariners and take Game 1 of the series.
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