On a thrilling Saturday night at T-Mobile Park, the Seattle Mariners clinched a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory over the Cleveland Guardians, sparked by Jorge Polanco's clutch bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning. This late-game heroics marked Polanco's fifth career walk-off hit and his first since joining the Mariners, igniting celebrations among teammates and fans alike.
The game began with Seattle jumping out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. J.P. Crawford set the tone with a single to right field and swiftly stole second base, followed by Julio Rodriguez's bloop single to center. Cal Raleigh then doubled off the top of the right-field wall, driving in Crawford, and Polanco capped the rally with a sacrifice fly that scored Rodriguez, giving the Mariners a 2-0 advantage.
Despite this strong start, the Mariners' offense stalled for much of the game, managing only two hits over the next seven innings—both by Crawford, who notched his second consecutive three-hit night. Meanwhile, Cleveland's offense chipped away at the deficit. Guardians starter Tanner Bibee pitched five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
The Guardians began their comeback in the fourth inning. With one out, Carlos Santana and Daniel Schneemann singled, and Nolan Jones followed with a two-out double to left-center, scoring Santana and cutting the Mariners' lead to 2-1. The momentum continued in the fifth when José Ramírez tied the game with a solo home run off Mariners starter George Kirby, extending his career-long on-base streak to 39 games—the longest active streak in Major League Baseball.
In the sixth inning, the Guardians took the lead on a wild pitch by Mariners reliever Gabe Speier. Daniel Schneemann led off with a soft infield single and later scored the go-ahead run when Speier's wild pitch bounced away from the catcher. This sequence gave Cleveland a 3-2 advantage heading into the late innings.
Seattle's George Kirby, coming off a dominant 14-strikeout performance in his previous start, struggled with command on Saturday. He walked three batters, snapping his remarkable streak of 68 consecutive starts with two or fewer walks—the third-longest such streak in MLB history, behind only Carlos Silva's 99-game streak and Cy Young's 85-game streak. Kirby pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.
As the game entered the ninth inning, the Mariners faced a daunting task trailing 3-2 against Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, a pitcher known for his blazing fastball. The bottom of the ninth began with Dominic Canzone leading off with a sharp single to right field. Pinch-runner Dylan Moore then stole second base, injecting life into the Mariners' rally. Miles Mastrobuoni, a pinch hitter, drew a walk, putting runners on first and second.
Rookie Cole Young laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt along the third-base line, expertly moving Moore and Mastrobuoni into scoring position. The Guardians responded by intentionally walking J.P. Crawford, who had reached base in all five of his plate appearances, loading the bases.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Dylan Moore scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Clase that bounced approximately 12 feet away from catcher Bo Naylor. Moore didn't hesitate, racing home with an easy slide to tie the game at 3-all. Clase then struck out Julio Rodriguez on a 101 mph cutter, setting up the dramatic finish.
After an intentional walk to Cal Raleigh re-loaded the bases, Jorge Polanco stepped into the batter's box. Facing Clase's 100.1 mph cutter, Polanco grounded a single up the middle, driving in Miles Mastrobuoni for the walk-off run. The Mariners erupted in celebration, mobbing Polanco and showering him with gum in a joyful scene that manager Dan Wilson described as "something special."Wilson reflected, "As players when we grow up and a lot of us that arent playing anymore thats what you dream of, right? The bases-loaded situation, and when you get that theres something special that can happen and Polo was the one that was able to get it through."
Polanco, who had been battling a month-long slump due to an oblique strain that hampered his right-handed batting, has shown signs of resurgence. Just the night before, he hit his first right-handed home run of the season and doubled, carrying that momentum into Saturday's game. "The key is just keep working. Keep working on my approach. Keep working on my timing. Keep working on anything that I can do just to being ready," Polanco said. "Were going to have really good months, like I had (in April). Were going to have not too good (stretches). Were just going to keep working and never give up. In the end, everythings going to be all right."
This victory marked the Mariners' fifth walk-off win of the season and snapped the Guardians' incredible streak of 121 consecutive wins when leading after eight innings, underscoring the dramatic nature of Seattle's comeback. The Mariners improved to 35-34, clinching the series victory over the Guardians, who share the same record heading into the final game of the three-game set on Sunday.
Looking ahead, the Mariners will send right-hander Emerson Hancock (2-2, 5.04 ERA) to the mound on Sunday, while the Guardians will counter with right-hander Luis Ortiz (3-7, 4.26 ERA) in the series finale. Both teams will be eager to gain ground in the highly competitive American League West standings.
Seattle's offense, which had been dormant for much of Saturday's contest, demonstrated resilience and timely execution when it mattered most. Polanco's walk-off hit not only provided a thrilling finish but also highlighted the team's growing confidence and determination to capitalize on opportunities.
Meanwhile, Cleveland's José Ramírez continued his impressive season, extending his on-base streak and providing key offensive contributions, including his fifth-inning homer. However, the Guardians' bullpen faltered in the ninth, with Emmanuel Clase unable to close out the game despite his dominant stuff, exemplified by multiple pitches exceeding 100 mph.
Seattle's pitching staff also showed grit, with reliever Jackson Kowar earning his first victory of the season by pitching a perfect ninth inning to secure the win. The Mariners' ability to withstand the Guardians' rally and mount a comeback speaks volumes about their competitive spirit as the season progresses.
In sum, Saturday night's game was a microcosm of baseball's unpredictability and excitement—a tale of early leads, mid-game comebacks, and a heart-stopping finish. With both teams locked in a tight race, the final game of the series promises to deliver more compelling baseball action.
