X-factors for Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners and Tigers as ALDS matchups are set
USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lacques breaks down the ALDS and players to watch from the Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners and Tigers
Sports Pulse
The Detroit Tigers outlasted the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings to take Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series.
Zach McKinstry’s RBI single against Carlos Vargas in the top of the 11th was the difference in Detroit’s 3-2 win at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The Mariners got on the board first with Julio Rodriguez’s solo home run in the fourth inning, but the Tigers went in front on Kerry Carpenter’s two-run homer off George Kirby in the top of the fifth. Seattle tied the game 2-2 in the sixth on Rodriguez’s RBI single and neither team could score in the final three innings, becoming the first extra-inning game of the 2025 postseason.
Game 2 is set for 8:03 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 5 with the series heading to Detroit for Games 3 and 4 (if necessary).
Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded:
Carlos Vargas came in to pitch the 11th for the Mariners, issuing a leadoff walk to Spencer Torkelson and then followed with a wild pitch to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Vargas struck out Winceel Perez and Dillon Dinger, but Zach McKinstry hit a two-out RBI single to plate Torkelson and give Detroit the lead.
The Mariners and Tigers remain after nine and will be the first game in the 2025 postseason to extra innings.
Major League Baseball’s extra innings format is different in the playoffs from the regular season, getting rid of the “ghost runner” starting on second base once a game goes beyond nine innings.
Unlike the previous six months of baseball, extra innings in the postseason will not feature the free runner.
Clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the seventh, Detroit reliever Rafael Montero issued a leadoff walk to Randy Arozarena then back-to-back singles by Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, the latter driving in the tying run. Montero was replaced after failing to retire a batter and Tyler Holton got Josh Naylor to ground into a double play then Jorge Polanco to line out to keep the game tied.
Detroit finally got on the board with Kerry Carpenter’s two-run homer off George Kirby in the top of the fifth, taking a 2-1 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
Carpenter set a career high with 26 home runs in the regular season.
Julio Rodriguez hit a solo homer off Troy Melton in the bottom of the fourth to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.
Rodriguez had 32 home runs, 95 RBIs and 30 steals in the regular season, the second 30-30 campaign of his four-year career.
Gleyber Torres began the top of the third with a double off George Kirby, but the right-hander got Kerry Carpenter to line out to center and struck out Riley Greene before Spencer Torkelson flew out to left to end the inning. The Tigers are already 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Colt Keith singled and Dillon Dingler walked to start the top of the second against George Kirby, but the right-hander struck out Zack McKinstry, induced a Javier Baez groundout and whiffed Parker Meadows to end the threat with runners on second and third.
Catchers (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers.Infielders (7): Javier Báez, Andy Ibáñez, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres.Outfielders (5): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez.Right-handed pitchers (9): Kyle Finnegan, Jack Flaherty, Brenan Hanifee, Tommy Kahnle, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Rafael Montero, Will Vest.Left-handed pitchers (3): Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tarik SkubalCatchers: Harry Ford, Mitch Garver, Cal RaleighInfielders: J.P. Crawford, Josh Naylor, Jorge Polanco, Leo Rivas, Eugenio Suarez, Ben WilliamsonOutfielders: Randy Arozarena, Dominic Canzone, Victor Robles, Julio RodriguezUtility: Luke RaleyLeft-handed pitchers: Caleb Ferguson, Gabe SpeierRight-handed pitchers: Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, Luke Jackson, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Andres Munoz, Carlos VargasGleyber Torres (R) 2BKerry Carpenter (L) RFRiley Greene (L) LFSpencer Torkelson (R) 1BColt Keith (L) DHDillon Dingler (R) CZach McKinstry (L) 3BJavier Báez (R) SSParker Meadows (L) CFRandy Arozarena (R) LFCal Raleigh (S) CJulio Rodríguez (R) CFJosh Naylor (L) 1BJorge Polanco (S) 2BEugenio Suárez (R) 3BDominic Canzone (L) DHVictor Robles (R) RFJ.P. Crawford (L) SS