Tigers blow unforgivable ALDS Game 5 and waste historic Tarik Skubal outing

Not a single soul could've predicted the way Game 5 of the Tigers vs Mariners ALDS played out. The odds were probably leaning toward Detroit, who put Tarik Skubal on the mound just to be himself. But it was narrow.

The 15 agonizing, ping-ponging innings Detroit and Seattle traded went on for just over five hours. Skubal was a monster, and George Kirby was great. The Tigers used six relievers behind Skubal (including two starters), while the Mariners used six behind Kirby (including two starters). Two runs were all either offense could muster up through 14 interminable innings.

And then the Tigers sent out Tommy Kahnle, and fans at home were met with a sinking feeling in their guts: this one was over.

It went JP Crawford single, Randy Arozarena hit by pitch, out, and intentional walk to Julio Rodríguez to load the bases. A six-pitch battle with longtime Tigers foe Jorge Polanco ended an absolutely back-breaking, soul-sucking defeat for the Tigers. The Mariners' 24-year ALCS drought ended, and the Tigers are going home.

Tigers lose ALDS Game 5 to Mariners after stunning, heartbreaking, 15-inning classic

Skubal pitched six innings and struck out 13 batters, the most of any starting pitcher in a win-or-go-home postseason game. His seven consecutive strikeouts? Also a postseason record.

The Tigers' greatest weakness through their September slide, and even after they advanced to the postseason and forced a Game 5, was their downfall. The offense (aside from Kerry Carpenter, the Tigers' MVP of this series if such a thing existed for ALDS losers) couldn't hit. Only Zach McKinstry, Dillon Dingler, and Javy Báez collected hits (Dingler had two), and Detroit went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The middle of the Tigers' order (Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Colt Keith) went 0-for-23 with 10 strikeouts.

At this point, all you can do is tip your hat to the Mariners and maybe even wish them luck as they take on the Tigers' historical foe from across the border (the Blue Jays) in the next round. For the longest time, they couldn't hit either, but their bullpen proved to be deeper and they kept pressure on where the Tigers couldn't.

The Tigers had a great season, and then a bad one, and then a miraculous Wild Card win with their backs against the wall, but they just couldn't step up when they needed to. Another Game 5 ALDS loss is in the books.

At some point, we may be able to look back on this game and appreciate it for what it was: really, really good baseball. But for now, it's nothing but disgust and disappointment.