Scene at T-Mobile Park ahead of Detroit Tigers’ ALDS Game 1 in Seattle
Check out the scene at T-Mobile Park ahead of Detroit Tigers’ ALDS Game 1 vs Mariners in Seattle on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.
SEATTLE — The Detroit Tigers, aside from a booming Kerry Carpenter at-bat, waited most of the night at T-Mobile Park for their offense to show up in Game 1 of the ALDS at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, Oct. 4.
It finally did in the 11th inning, as Zach McKinstry – in the Tigers’ 18th at-bat of the game with a runner on – singled with two outs to drive in Spencer Torkelson (who walked and advanced on a wild pitch) from second base to give the Tigers a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five second round of the 2025 MLB playoffs.
Game 2 of ALDS: Tarik Skubal takes the mound
The Tigers, who entered as the No. 6 seed in the AL, won’t have much time to ponder the No. 2-seed Mariners ahad of Game 2 on Sunday (8:03 p.m., FS1). Detroit will send left-handed ace Tarik Skubal to the mound for his second start this postseason. Skubal had a 5.91 ERA in two starts against the M’s during the regular season, including giving up three runs in 5⅔ innings in an April start in the city where he went to college (Seattle University). The Mariners are slated to answer with veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, who posted a 3.75 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 12 innings in two starts against the Tigers during the regular season.
The series moves to Detroit for Games 3 and, if necessary, 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kerry Carpenter goes deep
The Tigers had one glaring matchup advantage when the Mariners announced George Kirby would be their starter in Game 1: Left-handed slugger Kerry Carpenter entered the postseason with a 4-for-8 mark vs. Kirby — with four home runs.
Make that five.
Carpenter launched a high 97.1 mph sinker 409 feet, depositing it deep in the right-center field seats to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. The lefty erased a 1-0 deficit Saturday one out after No. 9 hitter Parker Meadows singled with one out in the top of the fifth inning.
Rafael Montero struggles in relief
The Mariners tied the game at 2 soon after. Left-hander Brant Hurter threw a scoreless fifth and manager A.J. Hinch turned to right-hander Rafael Montero (a former Mariner) to open the sixth. That decision did not go as well, with Montero allowing a walk and two straight singles – the last to Julio Rodríguez – to tie the game
Hinch then went to left-hander Tyler Holton to face slugger Josh Naylor and got quick results: on a third-pitch sinker, Naylor grounded to shortstop Javier Báez, who tagged Rodríguez and threw to first to get a double play. With Raleigh on third, Holton induced a liner to right, where Carpenter was waiting.
Rookie Troy Melton delivers on the mound
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When Troy Melton took the mound against Randy Arozarena in the first inning, he became the first Tigers rookie to start Game 1 of a playoff series since Justin Verlander in the 2006 World Series. Melton, though, fared better than Verlander, who gave up seven runs (six earned) over five innings to in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Melton, meanwhile, threw 61.4% of his 57 pitches for strikes, finishing with one run allowed on two hits, one walk and four strikeouts. After working out of a first-inning jam, Melton’s major issue came in the fourth.
Melton’s second faceoff with Rodríguez didn’t go his way; the outfielder launched a 97.2 mph four-seam fastball at the top of the zone 413 feet to center, giving the Mariners a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Naylor, almost feasted on a middle-middle fastball; a 108.3 mph exit velocity was only enough to reach Carpenter’s glove at the warning track in right-center for a loud out.
Tigers threaten … but do not score early
After a wild-card series in which the Tigers left 29 runners on base over three games in Cleveland, they were at it again early in Seattle. Colt Keith, returned from the injured list, opened the second inning with a single, then advanced to second on a walk by Dillon Dingler. After a McKinstry strikeout, the duo moved to the left side of the infield on a groundup by Javier Báez, giving No. 9 hitter Parker Meadows two runners in scoring position.
He couldn’t deliver; the left-hander watched a 97.6 mph sinker at the top of the strike zone for a called strike three to end the threat.
The Tigers had at least one batter reach in each of the first three innings, and four in all — the Tigers went 0-for-7 with runners on, with all four stranded by Kirby.
This story will be updated.
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