Wild Card: Twins Break the Curse

10/04/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Royce Lewis (2 HRs) Helps Twins Snap 18-Game Playoff Drought; Rangers, D-Backs & Phillies Also Take Game 1s

MLB postseason, you’re up! We’ve got playoff baseball, and it’s here to stay for four straight weeks. Tuesday’s four-pack of Game 1 Wild Cards were exciting — a little tight due to nerves and a lot of defense. Only 22 runs were scored amongst eight teams (2.75 runs per club). Arizona stunned the Brewers with a 3-0 comeback to win (6-3) while the Rangers and Phillies were big winners behind stellar pitching. But the story of the day? The Twins breathed a sigh of relief and snapped that hideous 18-game playoff drought. Minnesota hadn’t won a postseason game since 2004! Their 18-game losing streak in the playoffs was the longest drought in all four major American pro sports. That changed last night in Minneapolis. Could a curse reversed be the beginning of an epic playoff run for the Twins? Let’s run it back on the Game 1s.

Wild Card Recaps (Game 1s)

AL: #3 Twins def. #6 Blue Jays (3-1)

Royce Lewis jacked two home runs in the first three innings for the Twins while Pablo Lopez (5.2 IP, 3 Ks, 5 Hits, 1 ER) was brilliant enough to silence Toronto’s offense. And after 18 consecutive lost playoff games, the Twins are winners in October, and they appear to have uber momentum heading into Game 2. MIN Leads Series (1-0)

AL: #5 Rangers def. #4 Rays (4-0)

A pitcher’s duel in Tampa saw the Rangers wear down Tyler Glasnow over six frames, eventually capitalizing on four Rays errors (the most they’ve had in a game all season). It wasn’t pretty for either side, but a shutout for Texas and Jordan Montgomery has Tampa already facing eliminating. TEX Leads Series (1-0)

NL: #6 Diamondbacks def. #3 Brewers (6-3)

Things looked bleak for the Diamondbacks after they quickly fell behind 3-0 in Milwaukee, but Arizona cranked three HRs in the 3rd and 4th innings — back-to-back from Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte — to flip the scoreboard (4-3). Insurance runs in the 9th sealed the deal, and the underdog D-Backs are rolling in the Wild Card. ARI Leads Series (1-0)

NL: #4 Phillies def. #5 Marlins (4-1)

Game 1 belonged to Zack Wheeler in Philly. The Phillies’ ace was just too much for Miami in the series opener. Wheeler tossed 8 Ks over nearly seven scoreless frames, and the Phillies bats just needed a few runs to put Game 1 to bed. Trea Turner went 2-for-3 with a double and two stolen bases. The Phillies will have Aaron Nola on the mound in Game 2 for a potential closeout. PHI Leads Series (1-0)

Today’s Schedule (Game 2s)

AL: #5 Rangers at #4 Rays (3:00 pm ET)
AL: #6 Blue Jays at #3 Twins (4:30 pm ET)

NL: #6 Diamondbacks at #3 Brewers (7:00 pm ET)
NL: #5 Marlins at #4 Phillies (8:00 pm ET)

MLB: ‘He Was Born for This’: Royce Lewis Homers in 1st Two Career Postseason At-Bats

Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn / Getty Images