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During an intense 15-inning contest, Jorge Polanco drove in the winning run with a base hit to right field, clinching a narrow win for the Seattle Mariners over the visiting squad in Game 5 of the American League Division Series.

Key Moments in the Marathon Matchup

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

The Mariners will now compete against the Blue Jays for the pennant in a showdown between 1977 expansion counterparts. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday in Toronto.

15th Inning Breakthrough

• The leadoff hitter started the bottom of the last inning with a sharp hit to the outfield.
• Another batter was struck by a throw, putting runners on the bases.
• After a teammate made an out, a throwing error by the center fielder allowed Crawford to advance.
• Following an intentional walk, Polanco singled on a 3-2 pitch to conclude the game.

Scoring Highlights and Defensive Efforts

Kerry Carpenter provided all of the visitors' offense with a two-run homer in the middle frames.

The Mariners evened the score at two runs apiece in the later inning on a pinch hitter's RBI single.

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

Starting Pitchers Battle

The Tigers' ace and George Kirby engaged in a pitchers' duel in the opening frames.

Skubal, a Cy Young Award favorite, gave up one run on a couple of hits with no walks and 13 strikeouts over multiple frames. He set a postseason record with back-to-back K's.

The only run came in the early going, when a double, stolen base, and sacrifice fly scored a run for the home side.

The Mariners' pitcher began with five scoreless innings before allowing a lead-off double in the sixth. After a pitching change, Carpenter homered on a pitch to give the visitors the advantage.

The starter lasted five-plus innings and was charged with one run on a few hits with no walks and several K's.

This victory signifies a major achievement for the Mariners, who move forward to battle for a place in the World Series after a long postseason absence.