What a game! Yes, that’s the reaction we all have after seeing Game 5 of the ALDS between the Mariners and Tigers. The game started at a slow pace, but things took a dramatic turn in the late innings, making it one of the most thrilling MLB games of the year. And all that excitement came without the usual fireworks of home runs or big hits.

The final scoreline, Mariners 3, Tigers 2, says it all. It was tight, tense, and packed with pure pitching brilliance. It also proved that sometimes you don’t need a slugfest to keep fans glued to their seats. When pitchers are throwing heat inning after inning, that’s entertainment on its own. And by the time the game stretched to 15 innings, everyone in the stadium and watching from home was on edge.

One run could decide it all, and in the end, it was the Mariners who had the last laugh. As for the fans? They’ve flooded social media with their reactions, and honestly, their posts are just as electric as the game they witnessed. Even Mets’ slugger Francisco Lindor couldn’t help from share his feelings. “Wild game.”

Absolutely wild… When was the last time we saw a game going deep till the 15th inning?

Well, for most of the night, fans were just waiting for someone to make solid contact. One big hit from any of the sluggers, that’s all they wanted. But from the 7th inning on, both teams went completely scoreless. You know that’s a real testament to how locked in the pitchers were. Every pitch had the crowd on edge, cheering like it could finally break the deadlock.

And then, it finally happened in the bottom of the 15th. Jorge Polanco came through, ripping Tommy Kahnle to right field with the bases loaded, and the Mariners could finally celebrate. And for that one swing, the game didn’t end until after 1 a.m!

By that point, things had gone so deep that both teams had to dig into their starting rotations. Detroit’s ALDS Game 3 starter Jack Flaherty was called in by the 13th, and the Mariners’ Game 2 starter Luis Castillo followed in the 14th.

The result? The game turned out to be the longest winner-take-all matchup in postseason history, both by innings and total time. It was the kind of contest that tested not just skill, but sheer endurance.

The tension and stamina on display in this 15-inning showdown reminded fans of some of baseball’s most unforgettable postseason marathons. The last time a playoff game stretched beyond 14 innings was back in 2014, when the San Francisco Giants outlasted the Washington Nationals in an 18-inning classic that lasted over six hours. Much like that legendary duel, this Mariners-Tigers clash showcased the purest form of competition—where every pitch, swing, and defensive play carried the weight of history.

Both games stand as reminders that October baseball isn’t only about power or highlight-reel moments. It’s about heart, patience, and unshakable willpower under the brightest lights.

So, fans didn’t just watch a thriller; they witnessed history being made.

Fans can’t have enough of the Mariners-Tigers series decider

“You don’t have to be a Mariners fan to feel that, just have to love baseball. What a game,” one fan said. Well, yes, to enjoy this game, a baseball fan would be enough. Take Lindor as an example… He is from the Mets, and they are out of the postseason. But as a baseball fan, Lindor just enjoyed the game to the fullest. The game was so close that it is not easy to determine which team was better. The difference was just a hit, and incidentally, the Mariners made that. Baseball at its best!

If anyone still has doubts that baseball doesn’t offer thrills like any other sport, check out this game. You might have heartbreak and excitement or both. “I’ve had approximately 52 heart attacks in this game and I’m not even a fan of either team,” another neutral baseball fan commented.

“The Blue Jays are going to face a position player in game 1,” one fan said. Well, no one is happier watching Friday’s Game 5 of the ALDS than the Blue Jays. Why? Because the Mariners and Tigers had to pour out every bit of energy, and just about every arm in their bullpen, to survive that marathon showdown that stretched well over four hours.

And it went on so long that both teams had to dig deep into their reserves just to keep things going. So by the time Seattle lines up against Toronto in the ALCS, their pitching staff — starters and relievers alike — will be running on fumes. As this fan joked, the Mariners might have to send a position player to the mound! “The winner of this Mariners-Tigers game is the Toronto Blue Jays,” added another.

“Sad part of this game is that they stopped selling liquor in the 7th inning. These Seattle fans need a drink.” Ahh, sure, but not the Mariners, but the Tigers fans also need a few pints of drinks. For the Mariners’ fans, they need to calm down their souls. So have a drink and take a rest for your body. And for the Tigers fans, getting out of the postseason in this way is too heavy a heartbreak. Have a drink, folks!

Nevertheless, we as baseball fans would surely expect a few more such games to come our way.