The last time the Minnesota Twins won a postseason game before Tuesday was in 2004.
Just to give you an idea about how long it had been, Joe Mauer was a rookie on that team, Johan Santana was the ace, and Torii Hunter was in his prime.
They managed to scratch off a win from the New York Yankees, but fell, 3-1, in the Division Series.
That started a 19-year run with no postseason victories for Minnesota, who had an 0-18 record in October over that span.
Until Tuesday.
With 5.2 one-run innings from Pablo Lopez and two home runs by Royce Lewis, the Twins finally put an end on the ugly streak.
Players were proud and emotional, especially reliever Caleb Thielbar.
“Thielbar, on the streak: ‘I was a senior in high school in ‘04. I remember the game. I’ve experienced everything that all the fans have, too. This was my team growing up. It’s still my team. I know how people feel and I know what weight was lifted off everyone’s backs today,’” Twins insider Do-Hyoung Park tweeted.
Thielbar, on the streak:
“I was a senior in high school in ‘04. I remember the game. I’ve experienced everything that all the fans have, too. This was my team growing up. It’s still my team. I know how people feel and I know what weight was lifted off everyone’s backs today.”
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) October 4, 2023
He couldn’t have said it better: the whole city of Minnesota woke up lighter, like a huge weight was lifted off their backs.
You can tell Thielbar grew up attached to the team and the city, so this has a special meaning for him.
He was actually part of the contingent of relievers that held the Blue Jays scoreless after Lopez was taken out of the game.
Louie Varland got that last out in the sixth, then Thielbar took care of the seventh and didn’t give up any hits or walks.
Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran sealed the deal in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
If the Twins win on Wednesday, they would take a postseason series for the first time since 2002.
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