Now we know why the Twins went nearly 7,000 days in the postseason with nothing but losses. They were waiting for Royce Lewis to grow up and win one.
Lewis, a 5-year-old kindergartner the last time the Twins took the lead in a playoff series, jumped straight from the injured list to the winner’s circle on Tuesday, hitting home runs in his first two postseason appearances as a pro.
As is typical in the postseason, the Twins’ offense was otherwise largely lacking, but Lewis’ attacks were enough to end professional sports’ longest postseason drought and secure a 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays in the Wild Card Series American League to provide Target Field.
After 18 straight losses since Game 1 of the 2004 Division Series, “we’ve got a new streak now,” Pablo López enthused after holding the Blue Jays to five hits and one run in 5⅔ innings.
“We are 1-0,” said López, “and we want to concentrate on that now.”
Especially because they only need to extend it to two to end their eight-game losing streak and advance to a best-of-five starting Saturday in Houston. Sonny Gray will be on the mound for the Twins on Wednesday, and a tiebreaker would be held on Thursday if necessary.
That’s a lot of work for the Twins to do, especially if they want to realize their wildest ambitions of a World Series in Minnesota. But there was little doubt that the end to the decades-old tale of futility — and, for that matter, a 13-game home losing streak that stretched back to the 2002 playoffs at the long-demolished Metrodome — was cathartic for both the Twins and their stadium full of fans .
“Honestly, I thought the place was going to crack and melt,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli marveled at the atmosphere created by the 38,450 crowd. “It was outside of this universe, out there on the field. The fans took over the game.”
Well, Lewis too. Returning to play after a two-week absence due to a left hamstring strain was a victory for the rookie, who had been told by the coaching staff not to overexert himself while running the bases for fear of re-injury.
They didn’t say anything about home run trots.
“I’m just blessed to be a part of it. My heart was racing,” Lewis said of his first two-homer game of his career. “I just let go of that energy and played the game I’ve loved my whole life.”
The rookie received a loud ovation when he came on as the Twins’ designated hitter in the first inning. That celebration, however, was just a whisper compared to the outburst that echoed around the park when the rookie infielder turned a 3-and-2 fastball from Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman and drove it ten rows deep into the left field stands.
“He went there looking for fastballs and got one,” Gausman said, shrugging. “I missed my spot by three and a half feet. Good hitters will make you pay.”
The screaming liner also scored on Edouard Julien, who had walked to start the inning.
Two innings later, Lewis, the newly minted American League Rookie of the Month for September – seriously, he was informed of the award on the morning of his first playoff game – got an even more vulnerable fastball from Gausman that turned into the barrel of his bat. Lewis lifted it in the opposite direction and just managed to reach the flower pots in front of the seats on the wall in the right-center field.
“Unique,” said Carlos Correa about his colleague, who was selected No. 1 in the draft. “It feels like he hits a home run every day, every time. He’s really a special talent, the kind of talent that can make you win a lot of ballgames in the postseason.”
Lewis became only the third player in major league history to open his postseason career with consecutive home runs. He traded to Evan Longoria from the Rays in 2008 and Gary Gaetti from the Twins in 1987.
“By the way, I’m also amazed at what Royce can do,” López joked.
The Twins never scored again or even managed another extra-base hit; Toronto actually beat them 6-5. But López and a quartet of Twins relievers — starting with Louie Varland and Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota natives who were first out of the bullpen in front of their win-hungry home crowd — held firm.
“I got a lot of texts like, ‘Just don’t make it 20!'” said Thielbar, who retired the Jays in the seventh game of the series. “It was pretty awesome. All three guys from Minnesota.” [including outfielder Matt Wallner] must play. That was a fun time.”
And the brilliant defense made it even better.
Michael A. Taylor, for example, swooped in to steal a hit from Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk in the second inning with a diving catch to short center field, a play that ended Toronto’s any chance of a big inning. Taylor also reached back to the center field wall just after Kevin Kiermeier scored Toronto’s only run in the sixth inning. With two runners on and two out, the outfielder prevented the Jays from tying the score by diving to catch Matt Chapman’s near-home run.
Max Kepler also made a catch at the wall and Donovan Solano made a diving stop to end the game.
Perhaps most importantly, when Jorge Polanco ran over a slow chopper at third base in the fourth inning and let the ball roll past him, Correa rushed to retrieve the ball and then fired it to the plate, where Ryan Jeffers was Bo Bichette marked out.
“Plays like that turn the game around,” said an appreciative Baldelli.
Now, the Twins hope their first playoff win in 19 years will turn their postseason fortunes around.
“I mean, I was in high school [Randolph] High school in 2004. I remember this [Twins’ last win]said Thielbar. “I experienced everything that all fans have.” That was my team growing up. It’s still my team. I know how people feel and I know the burden that was lifted from each of them tonight.”