The Mariners narrowly defeated the Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) on Sunday night in Seattle, tying the series 1-1 with a 3-2 win backed by a powerful offensive performance from former Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco. The victory marked Seattle's first home playoff win in 24 years.
Former Twins fan favorite Jorge Polanco plays hero against AL Cy Young candidate in Game 2 of the ALDS between Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers
The Mariners, who acquired Polanco from the Twins following the 2023 campaign and re-signed the second baseman to a one-year deal after last season, entered Sunday's game against the Tigers down 1-0 in the best-of-three series after dropping Game 1 by a score of 3-2 in an extra-inning showdown. To make matters worse for the Mariners, lefty Tarik Skubal, who will likely be the American League Cy Young Award winner for the second year in a row, pitched for Detroit on Sunday. He pitched a gem, allowing just two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out nine, but Polanco made sure the Mariners still came out on top.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Polanco started his offensive tear by driving a hanging slider from Skubal 392 feet over the left field wall to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.
Scoreless no more in Seattle!
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025
Jorge Polanco puts the @Mariners ahead! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/mZONMorqcd
In his next plate appearance, Polanco hit another solo homer to left field off Skubal, this time a 369-foot blast off a sinker down the middle of the zone in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Seattle a 2-0 lead.
JORGE POLANCO AGAIN! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/hVOUR8N4Ne
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2025
Polanco continued his excellent night at the plate by reaching first base on an infield single off Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan in the eighth inning following center fielder Julio Rodriguez's go-ahead RBI double.
If it weren't for Polanco's powerful performance, the Mariners would be heading into Detroit down 2-0 in the series. Instead, Seattle tied the series 1-1 because of Polanco, and appears to have a real shot at making it to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Since the Division Series became a 2-2-1 format, teams that have won Games 1 and 2 advanced to the next series 31 of 34 times. Polanco prevented that crushing reality for the Mariners.