Mariners Marathon 15th Inning Win

Considering that the Mariners now play out of T-Mobile Park rather than Safeco Field the game is still the same and if you’ve never attended a game just maybe it’s time to hit the road south for some exceptional playoff action.

In a match-up that many in the lower mainland were watching mainly due to the fact if the Mariners went on to win they might have to plan a road trip south to Seattle catching the action with the Mariners playing the Jays.

Dreams do come true and when and if you get a chance to catch a game you have to remember that a big part of the Jay’s organization is the Vancouver Canadians team who are a farm team to the Jay’s.

Now you’ll have the chance to take in some electric ball and could possibly be a part of history in the marking.

If you weren’t able to catch the action as the Tigers took their game plan to Seattle in a winner take all against the Mariners in a contest that was played in front of 47,025 fans who for the most part spent the night standing. 

The Tigers weren’t going down without a fight in a contest that saw the game played till the early hours of the morning in Detroit that had the fans cheering from a distance.

The Mariners pushed the game in a contest that was a must win considering that they haven’t played in for more than two decades.

The win saw them pull out the win over the Tigers in 15 rounds with Mariners Manager Dan Wilson called the squad to earn a 3-2 walk-off win advancing to Toronto against the Blue Jays.

In a contest that went the distance and then some it’ll be interesting to see how they will manage the pitching rotation which has to be tired being pushed to the limit.

Going the extra mile and beyond they somehow managed to get everyone to buy into the concept of winning with contributions from everyone ranging from players on the bench, pitchers or relievers.

The game itself saw the largest lead by either team leading by only one run which was the longest elimination game in postseason MLB history.

We can only imagine the conversation in the club house prior to the first pitch with both clubs knowing that it was a winner take all and advance.

Simply put – there is no such thing as losing having a long hard look at yourself with everyone playing for each other with no free rides.

The Tigers started Tarik Skubal who according to some in the baseball world who just might be the best MLB left-handed pitcher in the game but interesting that he started four games and the Tigers have lost them all.

A.J. Hinch, Tigers Manager pulled Skubal after the sixth inning that saw the Mariners score in the seventh on Leo Rivas’s RBI single that knotted the game until its dramatic conclusion. 

When he was asked he mentioned that it was an “Easy decision” after 99 pitches continuing to tell the media “After the fifth, I checked in on him, how he was doing physically and emotionally, and we both knew that he had one left. You know, he emptied his tank and obviously was emotional coming off the mound, and I think that signals exactly where we were in the game. He gave us everything he could.”

It’ll be interesting to know the status of Bryan Woo, Seattle’s Right-Hander, who was left off the ALDS roster apparently due to pectoral inflammation. He did throw in the bullpen Friday and could return knowing that he was the club’s best starter in the regular season who led their rotation with 4.3 wins, 2.94 ERA over 186.2 innings.  

Seattle used three starting pitchers in Friday’s win with Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert both entering in relief which leaves Bryce Miller, who started Wednesday, to take the mound on only three days’ rest.

He (Miller) threw 55 pitches in Game 4 and allowed two runs and four hits in only 4 1/3 innings.

Should he return it’ll be a rematch of the 2022 AL Wild Card Series that saw the Mariners complete a two-game sweep overcoming an 8-1 deficit in Game 2 which is something the Jays want to forget.

Following their 3-2 win the team stayed in Seattle before heading to Toronto which could lead to a late Saturday arrival against the Blue Jays.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson mentioned “Our guys will be ready and we’ll get there tonight, get some rest, and we’ll be ready to go.”

For the first time since 2001 and fourth time overall the Mariners will play in the American League Championship Series, against the Toronto Blue Jays with the seven-game series and the first pitch Sunday night in Toronto at Rogers Centre.

Seattle is starting Bryce Miller while the Jays are starting Kevin Gausman and regardless of who you cheer for it’s going to be exceptional ball!!!