The Seattle Mariners coughed up a two-run lead in the eighth inning but recovered to notch a late 3-2 win in Game 2 over the Detroit Tigers to even the best-of-five American League Division Series.
Jorge Polanco’s two solo homers off Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal had been the game’s only scoring until the top of the eighth, when Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double against Matt Brash to make it a 2-2 game.
The Mariners bounced right back in the bottom of the eighth with Julio Rodriguez hitting an RBI double to score Cal Raleigh and restore Seattle’s lead. Andrés Muñoz shut the door in the ninth to pick up the save.
Game 3 is at Comerica Park on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Here’s how Sunday’s game unfolded:
Julio Rodriguez RBI double puts Mariners back in front
Having given up a two-run lead in the top of the eighth, the Mariners stormed back in the home half, with Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez lacing back-to-back doubles, the latter bringing home the go-ahead run against Kyle Finnegan.
Spencer Torkelson ties it in the eighth
Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double with two outs in the top of the eighth to tie the game against Mariners reliever Matt Brash.
Jorge Polanco homers again in the sixth
In the bottom of the sixth, Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco took Tarik Skubal deep for the second time in three innings, another solo shot that extended Seattle’s lead to 2-0.
Jorge Polanco home run gives Mariners the lead
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Jorge Polanco hit a solo home run off Tarik Skubal to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. The reigning Cy Young winner bounced back to strike out Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor to end the frame.
Tigers and Mariners scoreless through three
Victor Robles reached on a walk to lead off the bottom of the third for the Mariners. Shortstop J.P. Crawford, who entered the game 4-for-5 against Skubal, then struck out for the first out of the inning. Randy Arozarena flew out to left field for the second out, and Cal Raleigh tried to jump a first-pitch changeup but lined out to shortstop Javier Báez to end the inning.
Tarik Skubal has four strikeouts on 44 pitches through three innings.
Tarik Skubal whiffs two in the first
Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena led off the bottom of the first inning with a single grounded up the middle. Skubal then struck out Cal Raleigh with a nasty 3-2 changeup and got Julio Rodríguez to strike out after a long-at bat.
His next batter faced got out on the first pitch, however, with Jorge Polanco popping out to third baseman Zach McKinstry to end the inning.
Tigers lineup for Game 2
Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Kerry Carpenter (L) RF
Riley Greene (L) LF
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Colt Keith (L) DH
Dillon Dingler (R) C
Zach McKinstry (L) 3B
Javier Báez (R) SS
Parker Meadows (L) CF
Mariners lineup for Game 2
Randy Arozarena (R) LF
Cal Raleigh (S) C
Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
Josh Naylor (L) 1B
Mitch Garver (R) DH
Victor Robles (R) RF
J.P. Crawford (L) SS
Tarik Skubal has run out of clothes on this road trip
SEATTLE — Tarik Skubal is just a regular guy who faces regular-guy problems. While the Tigers have been on the road for seemingly forever – traveling from Cleveland to Boston to Cleveland to Seattle – Skubal has run out of clothes.
“I’ve already worn all the underwear once,” he said, smiling. “I had to take those in and have the clubbies do some stuff. I’m wearing the same shirt I wore in Cleveland already because I had to run it through and get it washed. That’s fun, though. Socks. Ran out of socks too. … But I don’t think anyone’s complaining about being on the road for however many days it’s going to be.” — Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press
Tigers vs. Mariners schedule for ALDS
Tigers lead series 1-0
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4 – Tigers 3, Mariners 2 (11 inn.)
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5 – Tigers at Mariners, 8:03 p.m. ET
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Mariners at Tigers, Time TBA
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8 (if necessary) – Mariners at Tigers, Time TBA
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10 (if necessary) – Tigers at Mariners, Time TBA
Tigers vs Mariners TV channel, how to watch
Game 2 of the American League Division Series is being televised on FS1. Adam Amin will handle play-by-play duties with A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright as analysts and Tom Verducci reporting from the field.
TV: Fox Sports 1
Streaming: Fox Sports app, Fubo (free trial)
Watch Tigers vs Mariners on Fubo
What time is Tigers vs. Mariners game today?
First pitch is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. ET (5:03 p.m. PT) in Seattle.