Mariners’ key bats deliver in 3-2 win over Tigers in Game 2

Oct 5, 2025, 7:50 PM | Updated: 9:34 pm

Editor, Seattle Sports

The Seattle Mariners’ superstars have shown up for the postseason.

Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez hit back-to-back doubles in the eighth inning to break a tie and lift the M’s to a dramatic 3-2 win in Game 2 of their American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday night.

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The win, which was the first at home for Seattle in a postseason game since 2001, evened the best-of-five ALDS at 1-1 before it shifts to Detroit on Tuesday.

JULIO RESTORES THE LEAD! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/nd0KLDWoz3

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025

Unlike in Saturday’s Game 1 loss when they combined for all six of Seattle’s hits, “The Big Dumper” and “J-Rod” had some help from another key member of the Mariners’ offense on Sunday.

That would be Jorge Polanco, who showed he’s not scared of Tigers ace Tarik Skubal with a two-homer night that gave Seattle an initial 2-0 lead.

Jorge Polanco’s big game is two great signs in one for Mariners

First, Polanco ripped a 2-0 slider into the Mariners’ bullpen to put Seattle ahead in the fourth inning. His solo shot, which was just the second hit of the game for Seattle, traveled 392 feet with a 103.4 mph exit velocity.

Scoreless no more in Seattle!

Jorge Polanco puts the @Mariners ahead! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/mZONMorqcd

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025

According to MLB.com’s Josh Kirshenbaum, Polanco is just the third batter to hit a Skubal slider for a home run in 2025.

Two innings later, Polanco turned around a 99 mph Skubal offering on a 3-2 count for a 369-foot homer to Edgar’s Cantina beyond the wall in left field.

JORGE POLANCO AGAIN! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/hVOUR8N4Ne

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025

Skubal, a Seattle U product who is the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award for the second straight year, struck out nine over seven innings. He allowed five hits and a walk five days after striking out 14 in an electric outing against Cleveland in an AL Wild Card Series opener.

With Skubal staying on the mound, the Mariners got aggressive in protecting their slim lead after Polanco’s first homer.

A night after leaving starter George Kirby in to face Kerry Carpenter with a 1-0 lead resulted in a two-run Carpenter home run, Mariners manager Dan Wilson went with Option B on Sunday. When Luis Castillo allowed a two-out single to Gleyber Torres in the top of the fifth inning – Detroit’s first hit of any kind on the night – Wilson brought in lefty Gabe Speier to face Carpenter.

It was the right call, as Speier struck out Carpenter to end the threat.

Gabe Speier strikes out Kerry Carpenter to keep the @Mariners in the lead! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/0Q1NlnDxTC

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025

Speier also retired the Tigers in order in the sixth inning, giving him back-to-back nights of 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Castillo was excellent despite an inefficient start to his outing. He settled down after passing the 50-pitch mark in the first two innings, giving the M’s 4 2/3 innings of scoreless work.

The M’s ran into trouble in the top of the eighth, though. Matt Brash issued a leadoff walk and first baseman Josh Naylor committed an error that gave the Tigers two baserunners. Spencer Torkelson fought off an inside Brash fastball for a double down the line to score them both, tying the game at 2-2.

SPENCER TORKELSON TIES IT IN THE 8TH! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/wfPlwau4u2

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025

Instead of another night of extra innings, Raleigh got momentum back on the Mariners’ side with one out in the bottom of the eighth, ripping a double to the corner in right against Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan. Rodríguez followed with a double down the other line to get Seattle back in the lead.

Andrés Muñoz, who threw two innings Saturday, needed just 13 pitches to get the save in the ninth.

The @Mariners get their first home #Postseason victory in 24 years! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/PBLVXTI0er

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025

Game 3 of the ALDS is set for 1:08 p.m. Tuesday at Detroit’s Comerica Park. The Mariners Radio Network broadcast will air on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app, while FS1 will have the TV broadcast.