Twins

Twins Officially Clinch First Playoff Berth Since 2010

It happened.

For the first time since 2010, the Minnesota Twins are headed to the postseason thanks to a walk-off, two-run home run from Chicago White Sox infielder Nicky Delmonico.

They’re the first team to ever lose 100 games in a season and qualify for the playoffs in the next.

The Twins still haven’t won a playoff game at Target Field since the inception of the building that same season, and are going to need to do quite a bit to break that streak this time around.

First, a trip to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees is (almost certainly) in order. The Yankees are three games out of the lead in the AL East with four games to play, which more than likely lines up a showdown between Ervin Santana and Luis Severino next Tuesday.

…and as ridiculous as it seems, the blueprint for the Twins to win isn’t all that hard to see. Santana was solid in his start against the Yankees last week — amidst a three-game sweep — as he allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings, including most notably a solo home run to Aaron Judge.

The Twins roughed up Severino in his start at Yankee Stadium, though his offense bailed him out in a big way as Bartolo Colon was absolutely brutal. The Twins scored three runs in as many innings against the flamethrowing youngster, but were primed to do more damage as they forced Severino to throw 46 pitches in his final frame.

Don’t let anyone say the Twins backed into this, either.

They may not have won to seal the deal, but they played .611 baseball (33-21) after the trade deadline. That’s a 99-win pace for a full season, with a Pythagorean record — basically runs scored/runs allowed adjusted for games played — of around 105 wins.

The Twins no more backed into this than the Indians backed into a 22-game winning streak.

Furthermore, don’t make this a lovable losers situation. The Twins had no business even being here, let alone playing a coin-flip game against the team which has owned them for nearly 20 years.

You’re playing with house money, baby. Enjoy the ride.

Here are some selected quotes from the clubhouse, courtesy of Fox Sports North’s special postgame coverage:

Robbie Grossman: “Unbelievable. From where we started, no one thought we’d be here. To be here is a pretty unbelievable feeling. There are no words for it. We’re gonna enjoy this. The guys in this room have gotten us here. I don’t want to play with anyone else.”

Chris Gimenez: “(It was) very nerve-wracking. We kind of felt like normal fans for once in our lives. We were riding with the highs and lows to the end of that game. We knew it was going to happen; it was bound to happen. Thankfully it worked out sooner than later so we can just enjoy this tonight. We’ll get after it the rest of the week, but this is what it’s all about here. This is why we do what we do. No offense, but nobody but us in this clubhouse gave us any chance. That makes it even more special.”


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