Zach McKinstry Lifts Tigers to Win Over Mariners in ALDS Game 1, Praised by MLB Fans

The Detroit Tigers are one win closer to their first ALCS trip in 12 years.

Zach McKinstry’s RBI single in the 11th frame Saturday night lifted the Tigers to a 3-2 extra-innings win over the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of the ALDS.

McKinstry had gone 0-for-17 at the plate prior to his clutch hit. He was the first Tigers batter to record a go-ahead extra innings hit in the postseason since 2012, per Underdog’s Justin Havens.

The Mariners got in trouble early in the 11th inning when Spencer Torkelson reached second on a walk and wild pitch from Carlos Vargas.

Vargas struck out consecutive batters but was unable to get the final out before McKinstry sent Torkelson home with an RBI single. Tigers closer Keider Montero then stepped up to close out the win in the bottom of the 11th.

Earlier in the evening, Tigers starter Troy Melton was able to keep the Mariners off the board until the fourth inning. That’s when Julio Rodríguez hit the first postseason home run of his career.

The hit also marked the first time the Mariners sent a postseason runner home since Game 2 of the 2001 ALCS.

The Tigers answered in the top of the fifth, starting with a Parker Meadows single. Kerry Carpenter then hit a homer off George Kirby to give Detroit its first lead of the game.

The hit improved Kirby’s career record against Carpenter to 5-for-11 with five home runs, per MLB.

Rodríguez stepped up again for the Mariners in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

Meadows looked like he might have gotten the game-deciding hit when he connected again in the top of the ninth, but Mariners reliever Andrés Muñoz snagged the ball to keep the game tied.

The Mariners got one final shot in extra innings when Rodríguez singled in the bottom of the 11th frame. Montero then forced Josh Naylor into a ground out to seal the win.

The Tigers will now have the chance to take a 2-0 series lead when Tarik Skubal takes the mount to start Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday night at 8:03 p.m. ET in Seattle.

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