Detroit outlasted Seattle 3-2 in 11 innings to seize Game 1 of the ALDS, with Zach McKinstry delivering the tiebreaker on the first pitch he saw from Carlos Vargas after Spencer Torkelson moved him to scoring position with a walk.

Kerry Carpenter’s fifth-inning two-run shot gave the Tigers the lead, capped by Tarik Skubal’s strong start on the mound. Julio Rodríguez homered for Seattle, Cal Raleigh chipped in three singles, but Detroit bullpen arms closed it out as Will Vest and Keider Montero finished it in relief. Game 2 features Luis Castillo against Skubal.

Postseason extra innings add-no-runner rules didn’t apply here, and Seattle’s closer Andrés Muñoz bridged two scoreless frames before the Tigers pulled it out. Detroit’s resurgence continues as they try to push the series to Seattle.

Detroit edging Seattle 3-2 in 11 innings in ALDS Game 1 capped a tense playoff opener. Torkelson drew a leadoff walk in the 11th, a wild pitch moved him to second, and McKinstry delivered the go-ahead single to center, plating Torkelson. Muñoz and Vest stymied the opposition in the early extras, keeping the score knotted until the Detroit breakthrough. McKinstry’s arc from Toledo to All-Star candidate to playoff hero underscores the depth and timing that define postseason baseball.

McKinstry’s journey—from the Dodgers to the Cubs, then Detroit—reads like a blueprint for late-blooming utility players, especially with his 2025 All-Star nod as Peña’s injury replacement and a $1.65 million arbitration-avoiding deal in 2024. The win sets a tight tone for a series that’s already delivering the unpredictability and grind that fantasy managers chase in October.