This winter, the Detroit Tigers will be reliving a tough question: What could they have done differently? Their season ended in spectacular fashion with a 15-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners, 3-2, in Game 5 of the AL Division Series, and a loss that lingers and has you wondering if a couple of different decisions could have changed everything.
But for manager AJ Hinch, one of the most scrutinized decisions of the night wasn’t losing sleep over. To remove his ace, Tarik Skubal, after six solid innings was, in his words, an “easy decision.”
Skubal’s Historic Performance
Prior to his exit, Tarik Skubal produced one of the most remarkable postseason outings in franchise history. In six innings, he permitted two hits and one run while striking out 13 batters, the most any pitcher has recorded in a postseason winner-take-all game. A few batters into his sixth inning, he struck out three straight batters to leave Mariners’ hitters looking completely overmatched during a stretch where he struck out 7 straight batters.
The dominance came with a price. Seattle hitters worked deep counts, pushing his total pitch count to 99 once the sixth inning was complete. The last pitch was a 101-mph fastball right past Cal Raleigh, indicative of how much he had left. But Hinch thought it was time.
The Manager’s Call
“After the fifth inning, I physically and emotionally checked on him,” Hinch said postgame. “We both knew that he was done after one inning. He emptied his tank.”
Skubal had been pitching on regular rest for several consecutive starts, but Hinch said it was not about fear, rather it was a responsibility. “He gave us everything he could,” he said. “He was emotional walking off the mound, and that sent a message that we had reached our limit.”
But the Tigers bullpen had a long night ahead, they faced nine more innings, seven other pitchers and the type of angst that makes October baseball so enjoyable.
Seattle Seizes the Moment
After Skubal departed, the game took a different turn. The Mariners equalized the score at 2-2 in the seventh inning, which evolved into an almost five-hour runaway game, and at the bottom of the 15th inning Jorge Polanco secured a walk-off single to send Seattle to the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Detroit’s bullpen held up most of the night, allowing only two earned runs over the course of nine innings of work, but in the end this wasn’t enough.
No Regrets, Just Reflection
Hinch stood resolute when questioned about changing his mind. He remarked, “It was correct. He gave us everything he had. It was a great win by them so that means it was a devastating loss for us. I believe they deserve that.” While the Tiger’s season came to heartbreaking close, it’s also a prideful close. They battled for 15 innings, pitched by an extraordinary passing performance. And while they will carry the “what ifs” with them, there is a suggestion that Hinch is ready to accept them. A heartbreak of a loss, yes, but it is a loss he can live with.
