McKinstry lifts Tigers over Mariners 3-2 in 11 innings in ALDS opener

SEATTLE (AP) — Zach McKinstry was banking on Carlos Vargas throwing him a sinker, and that's precisely what the All-Star third baseman got.

McKinstry singled home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the 11th inning and the Detroit Tigers outlasted the Seattle Mariners for a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Saturday.

Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the resurgent Tigers, who squandered a huge lead in the AL Central and nearly collapsed entirely down the stretch before squeezing into the playoffs.

After winning their Wild Card Series at Cleveland, they can take a commanding 2-0 lead in this best-of-five matchup against AL West champion Seattle with dominant ace Tarik Skubal on the mound Sunday.

“All year long, I feel like we were either down or we were up,” McKinstry said. “We’re up right now, and we’re getting a lot of wins. Things are going our way."

In the first extra-inning game of this postseason, McKinstry pounced on the first pitch he saw from Vargas, a 99.6 mph sinker, and grounded it up the middle to score Spencer Torkelson from second base.

“I was kind of leaning on the, you know, he was going to throw 80% two-seams. And just kind of leaning on that and knowing what he was going to throw there,” McKinstry said. “Just trying to attack early.”

Torkelson, who walked leading off the 11th, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Vargas earlier in the inning.

Unlike during the regular season, there is no automatic runner placed at second base to begin extra innings in the postseason.

It was the Mariners’ second consecutive postseason loss at home that went extra innings. They were beaten 1-0 by Houston in 18 innings on Oct. 15, 2022.

Will Vest worked two perfect innings for the win, and Keider Montero got three outs for his first major league save. Montero extended the scoreless start to his postseason career and put the finishing touches on seven innings of one-run ball by Detroit’s bullpen.

The Mariners struck first, thanks to a solo homer by Julio Rodríguez in the fourth inning. Rodríguez, fresh off his second season with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, launched an elevated four-seam fastball from rookie Troy Melton, who was making just his fifth career start.

Seattle’s lead didn’t last long, though. Carpenter capitalized on an elevated fastball from right-hander George Kirby in a two-strike count, depositing it into the right-field seats to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.

Left-handed reliever Gabe Speier was warming up in the Seattle bullpen, but manager Dan Wilson elected to have Kirby face the left-handed-hitting Carpenter.

“We thought George continued to throw the ball pretty well there and still had pretty good stuff and a lot left in the tank,” Wilson said, “and he had been in a couple of tough spots earlier, but really pitched out of it well. And, like I said, (Carpenter) was able to get to the one up in the zone.”

It was the fifth career homer for Carpenter off Kirby, making him the fourth player in major league history with five or more hits off a particular pitcher — and all of them home runs. It also was the second career postseason homer for Carpenter, who set a career high with 26 during the regular season.

“I tend to see him well," Carpenter said. "He’s so good, though. He has great stuff, and in the first inning he was really good. So yeah, I’m pretty confident against anybody I go against. I was seeing him well tonight, especially after that first at-bat.”

Kirby was otherwise sharp in his second postseason start, striking out five across five innings.

Rodríguez ensured the Mariners did not go down easily, poking an RBI single to right in the sixth that tied it at 2.

Seattle closer Andrés Muñoz worked two scoreless innings, the first time he had done so since he was a rookie in 2019 with San Diego.

The Mariners didn’t get hits from any players besides Rodríguez and AL MVP contender Cal Raleigh, who chipped in three singles for his third career three-hit game in the postseason.

“All of our bullpen guys, including Troy, even though Troy started, it was a job well done in an environment where the fans were looking to help them get anything started,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We would squash the rally every time.”

Mariners RHP Luis Castillo is expected to start against Skubal in Game 2. Castillo is 1-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 19 2/3 postseason innings with 19 strikeouts. Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, pitched 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball in the Wild Card Series opener against Cleveland. He has a 2.03 ERA in four postseason appearances.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh reacts after popping out to Detroit Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry during the 11th inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez reacts after the team's loss in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene, right, and second baseman Gleyber Torres celebrate after the team's win in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson runs home to score the go-ahead run off of a single hit by Zach McKinstry during the 11th inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Detroit Tigers' Zach McKinstry hits a single to score Spencer Torkelson for the go-ahead run during the 11th inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Winning free agency doesn’t guarantee success.

It’s still a good start.

NFL teams have committed billions of dollars in free agency, hoping the players they’ve added can help them win a Super Bowl.

Some of the more aggressive teams — the Raiders and Titans — would be happy if new players just make them more competitive after futile seasons.

There have been several surprises, including a voided blockbuster trade that sent star edge rusher Maxx Crosby back to the Raiders.

Here’s some early winners and losers:

The NFC South champion Panthers added edge rusher Jaelan Phillips ($120 million) and linebacker Devin Lloyd ($45 million), two of the best players available at their positions. Phillips and Lloyd join interior lineman Derrick Brown and cornerback Jaycee Horn to give Carolina top players at each level on defense.

The Panthers lost defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, running back Rico Dowdle and center Cade Mays.

The 49ers snagged six-time Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans from Tampa Bay on a three-year deal that could be worth $60.4 million but only includes $16.3 million guaranteed over one year, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details weren't public. San Francisco also acquired defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa from Dallas for a third-round pick; added swing tackle Vederian Lowe and center Brett Toth; and re-signed tight end Jake Tonges and kicker Eddy Piniero.

The 32-year-old Evans can still be an elite player in coach Kyle Shanahan’s system, giving Brock Purdy a top target.

The Niners lost wideout Kendrick Bourne.

An excellent offseason last year helped the Patriots win 10 more games and reach the Super Bowl. They’ve followed up with another strong spending spree, adding wideout Romeo Doubs ($70 million), guard Alijah Vera-Tucker ($42 million), Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard ($9 million), edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones ($39.5 million), fullback Reggie Gilliam, tight end Julian Hill, safety Mike Brown and linebacker K.J. Britt.

They traded center Garrett Bradbury and lost defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga, tight end Austin Hooper and safety Jaylinn Hawkins.

Geno Smith is back in New York and the Jets strengthened their defense by acquiring veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat in other trades and signing two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Demario Davis and edge rusher Joseph Ossai ($34.5 million).

They also signed defensive tackle David Onyemata, edge Kingsley Enagbare, safety Dane Belton and cornerback Nashon Wright, giving Aaron Glenn several new players to bolster the defense. Left guard Dylan Parham fills a vacancy on the offensive line and backup tackle Max Mitchell returns.

The Jets lost linebacker Quincy Williams, guards Vera-Tucker and John Simpson and kicker Nick Folk.

After trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie, the Rams signed cornerback Jaylen Watson and re-signed safety Kam Curl to further boost the secondary.

Tight end Tyler Higbee returns to provide depth and long snapper Joe Cardona arrives to help on special teams.

They lost Evans not over money but because he wanted a new challenge and views the 49ers as closer to winning. The defense lost a pair of starters in cornerback Jamel Dean and defensive lineman Logan Hall.

The Buccaneers signed Robinson to improve the defensive line, linebacker Alex Anzalone, running back Kenneth Gainwell and backup quarterback Jake Browning.

The two-time defending NFC East champions make this list because they lost three starters on defense: Phillips, linebacker Nakobe Dean, safety Reed Blankenship.

The Eagles signed cornerback Riq Woolen and tight end Johnny Mundt and re-signed tight end Grant Calcaterra.

They gave defensive tackle Jordan Davis a contract extension and have to extend several young stars on a defense that dominated Kansas City in the Super Bowl two years ago. Philadelphia can’t pay everyone, and general manager Howie Roseman always finds a way to compensate for losing talented players.

The AFC South champions lost Lloyd, running back Travis Etienne and cornerback Greg Newsome.

They’ve signed backup running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and retained cornerback Montaric Brown and linebacker Dennis Gardeck.

The Jaguars have more work to do in the offseason.

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans runs during an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, file)

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jaelan Phillips warms up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, file)