Tigers Force Winner-Take-All Game, Beat Mariners

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

October 8, 2025

Tigers 9, Mariners 3

The Detroit Tigers forced a winner-take-all game, winning game five of the ALDS, 9–3, against the Seattle Mariners. Once the Tigers started scoring in the fifth, they took over from there.

Mariners Vs. Tigers Game Summary

The tone was set for the Tigers pregame, specifically by Dillon Dingler.

“We’re going to have the energy. We’re going to have the focus that it takes. Everybody’s looking forward to it, and we’re going to come out,” Dingler said in his pregame press conference.

Despite this, the Mariners, for the fourth consecutive time, were the first ones to get on the board. A Dominic Canzone RBI single drove in Josh Naylor, giving the Mariners a 1–0 lead.

The Mariners quickly loaded the bases against reliever Tyler Horton in the fourth. They were only able to escape with one run. Victor Robles wound up grounding into a double play, scoring Naylor once again.

Fifth Inning Surge

A single and a wild pitch helped Randy Arozarena advance to second base to start the fifth. The next pitch, Cal Raleigh hit a single to right center field, giving the Mariners a 3–0 advantage.

Up until the fifth, Mariners starter Bryce Miller had put on a clinic against the Tigers’ lineup. That was before the Tigers put together some semblance of offense in the bottom half of the fifth. Dingler hit a double into left-center field to score Zach McKinstry to put the Tigers on the board.

Jahmai Jones, pinch-hitting for Parker Meadows, hit an RBI double down the left field line to bring the Tigers within one. After a foul ball that barely missed the left field foul pole, Javier Baez connected on an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 3–3.

After the Mariners’ failed two-out rally, the Tigers took control. Riley Greene came up and hit a hanging slider 454 feet to take the lead for the first time. A Spencer Torkelson double, followed by a McKinstry double made it 5–3 in favor of the Tigers.

To end the inning, Baez hit a bomb to left field, extending the lead to 7–3. Fun fact, that was Baez’s first playoff home run since game four of 2017 NLCS vs the Los Angeles Dodgers back when he was with the Chicago Cubs.

As insurance, or overkill, depending on the person, Baez grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring McKinstry in the process.

What Went Right for the Tigers

Offensive Explosion

Despite Miller’s good four innings, Detroit finally broke through offensively in the fifth, and didn’t let up until the eighth, putting up runs in the last four innings.

“He has had some success against our organization. Not all of these players have been here for that,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said in his pregame press conference.

Up until this point, Miller had pitched in 19 innings against the Tigers, not allowing a single earned run.

What Went Wrong for the Tigers

Slow Start

The Tigers would have liked to score more in the first few innings. The whole series, they’ve been starting off slow, in terms of putting runs on the board. The Tigers might not be able to do that against better teams.

What Went Right for the Mariners

Strong Start

The Mariners, as mentioned earlier, started the scoring off like in every other game in the series. While the game before, it worked out, this time it didn’t.

Naylor’s Performance

Josh Naylor, up until this point, had gone 0-for-13 through the first three games of the series. Wednesday, Naylor went 3-for-4, while getting driven home twice. The Mariners will need it for Game Five on Friday.

What Went Wrong for the Mariners

Horrid Middle Innings

Not just Miller, but everyone the Mariners sent to the mound eventually had trouble. Every pitcher, with the exception of Luke Jackson, allowed an earned run.

Looking Ahead

The Tigers will have Tarik Skubal starting in Game Five of the American League Division Series on Friday, heading back to Seattle. Mariners skipper Dan Wilson will surely have a tough decision on his hands for who to counter Skubal with on the bump.