SEATTLE — Before Saturday night, T-Mobile Park had hosted only one playoff game in the past 24 years. That game lasted 18 innings and ended with a Mariners loss. This one was decided in a more merciful 11 innings, ending with a Detroit Tigers victory thanks to a two-out Zach McKinstry single through the infield to score Spencer Torkelson.

First, the No. 1 seed Brewers bombarded the Cubs with a hot start in a 9-3 victory. It was then the Blue Jays' turn to go wild on offense, as they scored eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings en route to a 10-1 win over the Yankees. The Dodgers then came back from an early 3-0 deficit to take a 5-3 victory over the Phillies.

Seattle's most experienced postseason pitcher faces Detroit's ace and reigning Cy Young Award winner Sunday at T-Mobile Park.

George Kirby and Luis Castillo have each shown some of the most mettle when pitching in some of the Mariners’ highest-stakes games of recent memory, which was among the leading criteria when the club