AL Division Series: Former Dodger Zach McKinstry lifts Tigers past Mariners in 11 innings
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Detroit Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson, right, celebrates with Javier Baez after scoring the go-ahead run off of a single hit by Zach McKinstry during the 11th inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero, left, celebrates with catcher Dillon Dingler after the team’s win in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh reacts after popping out to Detroit Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry during the 11th inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Detroit Tigers’ Zach McKinstry, right, steals second base against Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco during the 11th inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez watches the ball after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez, right, celebrates his solo home run with J.P. Crawford during the fourth inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Detroit Tigers’ Kerry Carpenter reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Detroit Tigers’ Kerry Carpenter, left, celebrates with Parker Meadows, who also scored, after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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Detroit Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson, right, celebrates with Javier Baez after scoring the go-ahead run off of a single hit by Zach McKinstry during the 11th inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
SEATTLE — Zach McKinstry singled home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the 11th inning and the Detroit Tigers outlasted the Seattle Mariners for a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Saturday.
Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the resurgent Tigers, who squandered a huge lead in the AL Central and nearly collapsed entirely down the stretch before squeezing into the playoffs.
After winning their Wild Card Series at division champion Cleveland in a deciding Game 3, they can take a commanding 2-0 lead in this best-of-five matchup against AL West champion Seattle with dominant ace Tarik Skubal on the mound Sunday.
In the first extra-inning game of this postseason, McKinstry pounced on the first pitch he saw from reliever Carlos Vargas, a 99.6 mph sinker, and grounded it up the middle to score Spencer Torkelson from second base.
Torkelson, who walked leading off the 11th, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Vargas earlier in the inning.
