After a game 163 loss to the Indians, the Twins were entering a wild card game match up against the Yankees.I'll be taking you through this game in what could be the last installment of this series ...Check out the previous editions of this series: April, May, June, July, August, September/Game 163.

 

Wild Card Game: Yankees (97-65) @ Twins (102-61)

• Twins: Jon Gray (13-7, 2.54 ERA)
• Yankees: Gerrit Cole (19-6, 2.79 ERA)

I bet no one expected to see the Twins and Yankees in the playoffs … I think we all know how this is supposed to go, but could the Twins finally win a playoff game? Let’s find out.

 

The matchup of Cole vs Gray was set up to be a great one, and they were both on their “A” game to start. Through four innings, the Twins were hitless and the Yankees had just two hits. Both teams were scoreless.

 

The Yankees got a couple scoring threats, but nothing across the plate. The Twins still didn’t have a hit through 4 2/3 innings, but then Luis Arraez finally rolled a single up the middle. This was followed by a Donaldson double which brought Kepler up with two men in scoring position. On a 2-0 count, Cole hit Kepler right on the back and Max glared to the mound as he jogged to first. Tensions were rising as Miguel Sano stepped to the plate with the bases loaded…

 

After working the count full, Gerrit Cole left a mistake pitch over the middle and Sano CRUSHED a grand slam to left field! He ran around the bases pumping his arms in the air as the crowd roared. He crossed the plate and celebrated with the dugout.

 

The Twins had all the momentum. Cole walked Cruz and was pulled. Jonathan Holder came in and immediately gave up back-to-back homers to Rosario and Garver. This was followed by a Polanco walk and a Buxton RBI double to make it 8-0. Target Field was louder than ever before.

 

The Yankees went quiet again in the sixth, then Josh Donaldson was hit close to his neck. He was clearly angry, but Kepler came from the on-deck circle to calm him down. Max must’ve said he’d get revenge because on the very next pitch he crushed a home run 437 feet to right field. As he rounded third he was pointing right at Donaldson as they both celebrated. The score was 10-0 Twins.

 

The rest of the innings went by quickly and the Twins would eventually win the game 10-1. It was the Twins first playoff win since 2002 and they were moving on to the ALDS. The Twins will be facing their division rival, the Cleveland Indians, in the ALDS. The next installment of this series will be all of the playoff games no matter how far they go.

 

I hope you have enjoyed the ride this series has taken us through and we are just getting to the most exciting part, so stay tuned for the playoffs!

 

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Simulation or not, and one of a few, this makes me very, very happy!

 

Good morning, morning! How are you today?

Thanks for the fantastic ride!

Wait . . . Twins beat the Yankees in a playoff game . . . fake news. 

 

Wait . . . Twins beat the Yankees in a playoff game . . . fake news. 

 

I find your lack of faith....   disturbing.

 

Sano the Yankee Killer breaks open the game!

 

Fun that the Twins earn their shot at the division rival it took 163 games in order to crown a victor. If this happened in real life, I can only imagine how tension-filled the series would feel. I can also only imagine the insane amount of momentum Twins fans would feel after finally slaying the Yankee dragon.

I hope one of our guys put one up near Judge’s messed up grill, if they’re going to throw at Donaldson.

 

Give them nothing.

Did I miss the "rest of playoffs" conclusion to this? Haven't seen it pop up on Twins Daily.

 

I wait with baited breath to hear how these Twins did!