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Through a gripping 15-inning battle, Jorge Polanco drove in the decisive score with a single to right field, clinching a narrow win for the Seattle Mariners over the visiting squad in Game 5 of the ALDS.

Decisive Plays in the Marathon Game

Luis Castillo, making his initial bullpen outing in the big leagues, threw over an inning to secure the victory, propelling his team to the ALCS for the first time since 2001.

The Mariners will now face the Blue Jays for the pennant in a contest between 1977 expansion brethren. Game 1 is set for the weekend in Toronto.

Final Inning Breakthrough

• JP Crawford initiated the bottom of the last inning with a sharp hit to right field.
• Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch, placing runners on the bases.
• After a teammate made an out, a throwing error by the outfielder let Crawford to take third.
• Following an intentional walk, Polanco connected on a full count to conclude the contest.

Key Runs and Defensive Efforts

A Tigers hitter provided all of the visitors' scoring with a home run in the sixth inning.

Seattle tied it at two runs apiece in the seventh on a pinch hitter's run-scoring hit.

Each squad posed a danger repeatedly in extra innings, with the Mariners grounding into inning-ending double plays in both the later extra innings.

Starting Pitchers Duel

The Tigers' ace and George Kirby delivered a low-scoring battle in the early innings.

Skubal, a pitching honor favorite, gave up a single score on a couple of hits with no walks and 13 strikeouts over six innings. He set a playoff mark with back-to-back K's.

His sole allowed score came in the second inning, when a double, theft, and sacrifice fly brought home a point for the home side.

The Mariners' pitcher opened with five scoreless innings before allowing a early hit in the middle inning. After a bullpen move, the Tigers batter homered on a pitch to hand Detroit the lead.

Kirby went over five frames and was charged with a single score on three hits with zero free passes and several K's.

This victory marks a significant achievement for the Mariners, who move forward to compete for a place in the World Series after a long postseason absence.