Mariners vs. Tigers score: Seattle wins longest winner-take-all game in MLB history on Jorge Polanco's single

The Mariners are, at long last, going to the ALCS. Friday night at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners outlasted the Tigers in an instant classic, winning Game 5 of the ALDS on Jorge Polanco's 15th inning walk-off single.

By innings, Game 5 is the longest double-elimination postseason game in baseball history, and it was first double-elimination game to go to extra innings since Game 5 of the 2019 NLDS between the Nationals and Dodgers. Howie Kendrick hit a 10th inning grand slam off Joe Kelly to win that game for Washington.

Tarik Skubal's brilliant start feels like it was a lifetime ago. He allowed one run in six innings, and struck out 13. It is a new record for strikeouts in a win-or-go-home game. Skubal also struck out eight in a row at one point. That's a new postseason record. He was out of this world good.

George Kirby, Seattle's starter, threw five innings on 66 pitches. He gave up a leadoff double in the sixth and that was it. His night was over. Lefty Gabe Speier came in to face lefty Kerry Carpenter, and Carpenter took him deep for a two-run homer. That gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

In the seventh inning, the Mariners rallied to the tie the game when pinch-hitter Leo Rivas -- he pinch-hit for pinch-hitter Dominic Canzone -- lined an RBI single to left on his first swing of the postseason. That sent Game 5 into extra innings.

Seattle is going to the ALCS for the first time since their historic 116-win season in 2001. They will face the Blue Jays. The ALCS begins Sunday in Toronto.

Raleigh's fly ball to center advances the runners. The ALDS-winning run is at third base with one out. They're walking Julio Rodíguez to set up the force at every base. Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suárez are coming up.

Arozarena takes a changeup to the elbow guard. The ALDS-winning run is at second base with no outs. Raleigh is up.

No. 9 hitter JP Crawford leads off the 15th inning with a single. Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, and Julio Rodríguez coming up now.

He threw a fastball!

Tommy Kahnle is now in for the Tigers. I predict he'll throw a changeup.

I'm really starting to miss the automatic runner right about now. This is the longest postseason game since the Mariners and Astros played that 18-inning marathon at T-Mobile Park in Game 3 of the 2022 ALDS. This is the ninth 15-inning game in postseason history. Flaherty and Castillo might be in this game until it's over.

Castillo gets a pop up to end the inning. The Mariners will have another chance to walk this game off in the bottom of the 14th.

Luis Castillo is coming in to pitch. This will be his first relief appearance since he was in A-ball in 2016.

Good gravy. Eugenio Suárez bangs into a 6-4-3 double play. We're going to the 14th.

Gutsy pitch by Flaherty. 3-2 curveball strikes out Polanco. That's the first out.

Now Julio walks. The Mariners have the ALDS-winning run at second with no outs.

Cal Raleigh draws a leadoff walk. I expect A.J. Pierzynski to say the Julio Rodríguez should bunt. (Julio is hitless since Game 2. He's 0 for his last 14.)

Raleigh walks. Winning run is on.

Jack Flaherty is on the mound for the Tigers.

This is the inning. It ends now. Is that bold? Based on how neither team seems to want to score, I think so.

Bazardo, working for the fifth time in seven days, strikes out the side in the 13th. Raleigh, Julio, and Polanco coming up in the bottom half. It's still 2-2.

Luis Castillo is now warming up for the Mariners. Jack Flaherty is tossing for the Tigers.

Wow. Montero escapes with a 1-4-3 double play. To the 13th!

This inning is failed bunt after failed bunt. Randy Arozarena is up with the winning run at second base and one out.

Robles' run doesn't matter anyway. JP Crawford is up now and trying to bunt again.

They call it a hit-by-pitch. They said the call "stands," which is official language. They didn't see clear and convincing evidence to overturn the HBP call on the field.

Robles bunts and it hits him in the hand. The slow-mo replay makes it look like it hit bat first, then hand, which would be a foul ball.

Leo Rivas walks, then Keider Montero's pickoff throw to first gets away. The Mariners have the ALDS-winning run at second base with no outs. Victor Robles is at the plate.

More on Carpenter's night:

Torres flies out. The Mariners escape. It's still 2-2 going to the bottom of the 12th.

Nice play by Eugenio Suárez to get the out at home. The Mariners intentionally walked Kerry Carpenter (he's been on base all six times tonight) so it's up to Gleyber Torres with the bases loaded and two outs.

Meadows does indeed bunt. It's a good one. Tigers have runners at second and third with one out. Báez has faced Bazardo in all five games. He took him deep in Game 4.

Back-to-back singles to open the 12th. Gilbert's night is done. Eduard Bazardo is coming in. He's pitched in all five ALDS games. Parker Meadows, Javy Báez, and Kerry Carpenter are due up for the Tigers. Meadows will bunt, yeah?

Gilbert is still out there for the Mariners. This is his third inning of relief.