Julio Rodríguez grabs life from jaws of death in Mariners' ALDS Game 2 stunner

For the Seattle Mariners, the American League Division Series has thus far been a study in things they have no business doing.

They had no business losing Game 1, in part because they had no business beating Tarik Skubal in Game 2. But then — plot twist! — they did put themselves in position to beat Skubal... until Matt Brash waded into no-business territory with a messy eighth inning that culminated in an excuse-me double by Spencer Torkelson. Many Mariners fans are balder now after tearing their hair out at that one.

Thank goodness for Jorge Polanco, who had no business becoming only the fourth player to take Skubal deep twice in one game. And for Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, who... OK, fine, them being the ones to come up clutch with back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the eighth was absolutely on brand.

The Mariners eventually had runners on first and third with only one out after that, meaning they had no business only getting the one run in the inning. Then came Andrés Muñoz, who probably had no business pitching one day after he was asked to get six outs in Game 1.

Yet however improbably, all of the above worked in Game 2. Or at least, it worked long enough for the Mariners to walk away with a 3-2 win that tied the series at 1-1. It's not a 2-0 advantage, but it sure as you-know-what beats the 0-2 advantage that the Tigers were banking on with Skubal on the bump.

Mariners beat the odds in ALDS Game 2 to recenter focus on Championship Series

Even after Game 2, what remains for the Mariners after Game 1 is a faint echo of vulnerability. This team is still missing Bryan Woo, after all, and the offense simply hasn't resembled the world-beating unit that it morphed into in September. Apart from Raleigh, Rodríguez and Polanco, the rest of the offense has all of three hits.

Yet just as it couldn't be said loudly enough that the Mariners should not have lost in Game 1, it can now be said equally loudly that they stole one from the Tigers in Game 2.

Yes, we know that the Mariners had Skubal's number in the regular season, dealing him two losses in two tries. But having Skubal's number is a bit like catching a snowflake. It's a good feeling, but you just have to assume it's not going to last. The dude is about to win a second straight Cy Young Award for a reason, after all.

That reason mostly comes down to his changeup, and this is where everyone has to give the Mariners their proper credit. They handled the pitch well in the regular season, and the experience spooked Skubal into using it sparingly in Game 2. The pitch did get five whiffs, but Mariners fans should bookmark the two whiffs he didn't get on the two changeups he threw to Polanco before he sent a 99 mph fastball over the wall for his second homer.

Not bad for a guy who often bats fifth in deference to Cal, Julio, Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor. And when a guy who only gets fifth billing most nights can do damage like that, well, that'll do for a nice reminder that this offense isn't so much dead as sleeping.

Even if it took one day too many for Wilson to learn his lesson with Gabe Speier, the Mariners have mostly put on a pitching clinic in this series. They have allowed four earned runs in 20 innings, good for a 1.80 ERA.

The road ahead leads back to Detroit for Games 3 and 4, slated for Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The test the Mariners will face is only a little less intimidating than the Skubal test, in that they will have to win at least one on the road after a season in which they went 39-42 away from home. It is largely courtesy of George Kirby's and Luis Castillo's home/road splits that Logan Gilbert has the assignment for Game 3, but he was no peach on the road either this year.

Still, at least the flight to the Motor City won't resemble a march toward the grave. These Mariners have life in them again, and all it took was grabbing it from the jaws of death.