ALDS Game 5 highlights : Kerry Carpenter delivered one of the most iconic moments in Detroit Tigers history, launching a 411-foot, two-run home run in the 11th inning of Game 5 to lift the Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the 2025 ALDS. The walk-off blast, which silenced T-Mobile Park, sent Detroit to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2012 and cemented Carpenter’s status as a clutch postseason hero.
A Legendary At-Bat
With the game tied 2-2 and Javier Báez on second after a sharp double and a slick slide, the Tigers sent Carpenter to the plate. Seattle manager Dan Wilson pulled starter George Kirby—whom Carpenter had tormented throughout his career, hitting five home runs in 11 at-bats—and brought in left-handed reliever Gabe Speier. On a 1-0 count, Carpenter crushed a 95.4 mph fastball deep to center field, sending it 411 feet over the fence. The home run gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead, and closer Alex Lange secured the final three outs, sending Detroit to the ALCS to face the Toronto Blue Jays.
Carpenter’s Postseason Legacy Grows
- Carpenter, a 26-year-old outfielder, has emerged as one of the most feared power hitters in October.
- In Game 4, he homered to spark a 9-3 comeback, and in
- Game 1 of the ALDS, he hit a two-run shot
- off Kirby, becoming the only active MLB player with five career hits against a single
- pitcher—all of them home runs. His ability to deliver in high-leverage moments has
- earned him the nickname “Kerry Bonds” among fans and analysts.
- “Clutch doesn’t even do it justice,” said manager A.J. Hinch. “When the lights are brightest, Kerry shines the brightest”.
Strategic Gamble Backfires for Mariners
Seattle’s decision to remove Kirby was logical, but the choice of Speier—a reliever with a 4.82 ERA—proved costly. The Tigers’ ability to capitalize on the matchup shift underscored their offensive discipline. Tarik Skubal’s 11-strikeout performance over seven innings set the tone, but it was Carpenter’s bat that delivered the knockout blow.
Tigers’ Historic Run Continues
- With the win, the Tigers advance to the ALCS, where they will face the Toronto Blue Jays
- starting October 13, 2025. Carpenter’s home run joins legendary moments like Kirk Gibson’s
- 1988 World Series walk-off and Magglio Ordóñez’s 2006 ALCS heroics in franchise lore.
As Detroit celebrates, one truth is undeniable: Kerry Carpenter is no longer just a rising star—he’s a postseason legend in the making.
