4 Takeaways From Mariners’ ALDS Game 5 Win Over Tigers to Advance to ALCS

Extra innings. Old-fashioned pitchers’ duel. Endless debates about aces being pulled too soon. Clutch hitting. Gutsy baserunning. Phenomenal performances from the bullpen — including from starting pitchers. Controversial calls. Walk-off win. Game of the year.

Here are my takeaways:

The Mariners had so many chances, but it wasn’t until Jorge Polanco ripped a Tommy Kahnle changeup to right field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 15th inning that the Mariners could finally celebrate. Polanco’s walk-off single scored J.P. Crawford, the longest-tenured Mariner, from third base. Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor embraced him at home plate before running to mob Polanco at first. 

Before then, the game had stretched so long that both the Mariners and Tigers were forced to go into their reservoir of starting pitchers. Detroit’s ALDS Game 3 starter Jack Flaherty entered the game in the 13th inning, and Game 2 starter Luis Castillo took the mound for Seattle in the 14th inning. After giving everything, it was heartbreak for the Tigers. The Mariners advanced on Polanco’s first hit of the night, in his sixth at-bat of the game.

In the seventh inning with the Mariners trailing the Tigers 2-1, Leo Rivas dug into the box as Seattle’s pinch-hitter with fewer than 200 career plate appearances under his belt. It was his 28th birthday, and he was on the verge of celebrating it in a packed T-Mobile Park. Rivas ripped a Tyler Holton changeup to left field, driving in  Polanco from second to tie the game at 2-2. He was fired up, and the crowd went wild. 

Leo Rivas came up clutch for the Mariners in Game 5. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Rivas, born in Venezuela, spent nine years in the minor leagues before making