Twins 3, Blue Jays 1: National Nightmare Over; Lewis, Lopez and Defense Deliver Playoff Win

[GNess]

Whew! What fun!!!

[Aggies7]

12 minutes ago, chinmusic said:

And last but not least...Michael A Taylor. There were many. This team has gelled so well, Love it!

Forgot him. Made a bigger play than Correa’s

[Doctor Evil]

Nice win!

[jkcarew]

1 hour ago, adorduan said:

I also don't want to see Polanco in the field in a playoff game ever again. The horrible throw to second against Houston a few years ago, the horrible throw to first in the 1st inning today, the horrible play on a grounder in the 4th

Thanks to Correa, Polanco’s failure to field Kiermaier’s chopper in the 4th was a HUGE break for the Twins…

if Polanco successfully fields that ball, no out is recorded on the play. Zero chance of getting Kiermaier there. None. Best case, Polanco eats it…Bases are loaded with Chapman in the box.

Weird how things work out sometime.

 

[Einheri]

1 hour ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Oh well, start another one tomorrow! 🤣

(kidding, people!)

This is the start of the 13-0 Streak.  ;-)

[DocBauer]

Lopez...Wow!

Bullpen...Wow!

Correa...Wow!

Taylor...Wow!

Solano...Wow!

Lewis...what was that whole MVP discussion thing...WOW!

[twins_89]

Great game for the Twins. Lewis was awesome and would be even more so if he can get back in the field (please no more Polanco at 3B).

[Dantes929]

Auspicious start.    First guy up hit a pop fly that Kepler  looked like had a bead on and he let Kiriloff try to make a circus catch instead.  Then error by Polanco and I had a really bad feeling.   Fortunately Lpoez stepped up big time and nipped it all in the bud.   Great win!!

[Althebum82]

Clearly Lewis needs to stay in the DH slot.  3B for him is too risky.

Polanco was a logical candidate to try at 3B, but let's instead switch to Farmer, Solano, or Castro for game 2 to address the obvious weakness of the logic.

Polanco will still find a way to make an important contribution to this team's success, one way or another.

 

 

[jmlease1]

Excellent win. I was nervous as hell, but every time the Jays tried to get the game, someone stepped up from the Twins and shut it back down. That's really good to see, and hopefully gives the team confidence going into game two.

Royce Lewis...what else is there to say? No moment is too big for him. Just stay healthy young man, because your star burns bright.

Pablo Lopez sure looked like a Game One starter today. Very nice work from him, and then the bullpen slammed the door. Twins starting pitching looks like a playoff rotation to believe in.

I'm not worried about Polanco. No, he didn't have a strong game at 3B, but he's a heck of a player and he will be fine. I see a big impact for him coming.

That play by Correa to get Bichette was brilliant. Not a lot of players can make that play: first getting to that ball behind Polanco when you're so far to 2B, then fielding it cleanly, then making the smart and strong throw to home...that's wonderful SS play. I love watching him play defense out there.

[darwin22]

So........this is how it feels to have a 900 lb. gorilla off our back?  

Not going to restate the obvious from this game, but a few comments:

#1  Has there EVER been a better crowd at Target Field?  Just great to see the fans enthusiasm and support all day.

#2  Defense!!!  On a day where the bats were mainly silent (except for Royce!) the defensive plays by MAT, Correa and Solano cannot be overstated.  

For all of the (imo justified) criticism of Correa with his bat, he showed a NATIONAL audience how GREAT a defensive player he is!  I still cannot believe he made that play to throw Bichette out at home especially considering where he started from.  

Does any other MLB SS make 'that' play?  Simple answer:  No!

#2B  Regardless of how this series ends, can Falvey front office re-sign Solano for next year with a nice raise.  Donnie Barrels has not only been one of our most consistent and productive hitters all season, but the play he made to end the game was sensational! Not sure what the exit velo was on that rocket Springer hit (guessing 100+), but his ability to snare it and make a perfect throw to Duran was terrific.

#3  Bullpen:   As excellent at it was today, I don't see the pitch counts hindering ANY of the 4 RPs used from pitching tomorrow.

Hopefully, Gray can pitch, at minimum, 5 effective innings or more.  Should that prove true, it will be interesting to see what Rocco does.

A couple of questions for those not used:

Is Pagan trusted in a meaningful/high leverage spot?  His 0.82 September ERA/ 2.27 ERA since June 1st--would suggest the answer is "yes"   Pagan did have a notable meltdown against the Jays in a road loss on June 11th, but did pitch 2 scoreless innings on May 26th.

Do the 3 late season appearances by Brock Stewart ( 3IP/ 4 hits/ 0 walks/ 4 Ks) influence Rocco to use him in a late high leverage situation?

I can see the pecking order tomorrow to be:

5th or 6th:  Pagan or possibly Stewart

7th:  Varland.  Yes, loud contact from Chapman, but he threw only 2 pitches.

8th:  Mix and match.  Thielbar and Jax.  Jax showed me A LOT in the 8th today after Guerrero smoked his first pitch for a double.  3 pitches to Bichette:  Sit down Bo!  3 pitches to Biggio:  Take a seat Cavan!  1 pitch to Kirk---Solano with nice pick.  End of inning.

and finally...the lineup against Bassitt:

Bassitt has been excellent over the last 2 months, but he DID give up 7 ER over 4 IP in his only start against the Twins on May 27th.

Don't see any significant changes, but will be interesting to see what Rocco does with Polanco?

IMO, he should sit.  I know he's playing out of position at 3B, but his 1st inning throwing error was brutal. His other defensive whiff (tough play) was bailed out by Correa.  At the plate, Polanco had a rough day going 0-4 (2 whiffs, pop up and routine fly ball out.

Who could replace Polanco?  Easy answer:  Willie Castro.  In Bassitt's start in May, Castro homered off him and also had another hit.  He can absolutely cover 3B and then be moved into an OF slot in later innings with Farmer taking over.

Stay humble boys.  Lets go get another W tomorrow.

[Nine of twelve]

2 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Oh well, start another one tomorrow! 🤣

(kidding, people!)

We started a streak today.

The streak is dead! Long live the streak!

[Nine of twelve]

34 minutes ago, Einheri said:

This is the start of the 13-0 Streak.  ;-)

Streaks can go longer than that.

[Linus]

Polanco had a rough game but nobody is talking about Juliens fielding. Had a chance to get two and defaults to first. At a minimum he needs to get the lead runner. And then makes a mess of a pretty routine liner. I get these are the best bats but Polo at third and Julien at second is going to be shaky. 

[SotaSports in NM]

What a thrilling game to watch! So glad for this win. 

We started the game with some great at-bats and worked the count, but after the 3rd inning it felt like we lost our offensive composure a little bit (granted, Gausman stepped it up a bit in the fourth and their pen kept us off balance). 

I like the pitching decisions. I was a little worried about the replacements coming in - we all knew Rocco would do that. Thankfully one of those replacements closed it out with a great reaction at 1st.

 

[2wins87]

Obviously happy for the streak to end in any fashion, but reflecting on it now, it wasn't just a win, but a really good win in a classically good playoff game.

It had hitting heroics from Lewis, and a ace level pitching performance from Pablo. Elite defense from Michael A Taylor, and weird but great defense from Correa. And there were big Ks in tense late innings situations from Jax and Duran

It's really great to finally be able.to enjoy a win in a big game like that again

[Linus]

1 minute ago, Linus said:

Polanco had a rough game but nobody is talking about Juliens fielding. Had a chance to get two and defaults to first. At a minimum he needs to get the lead runner. And then makes a mess of a pretty routine liner. I get these are the best bats but Polo at third and Julien at second is going to be shaky. 

And thanks to Pablo Royce and MAT. The great start by Pablo is the blueprint for this team in the playoffs. 

[mikelink45]

So great - Lewis confirms my belief that he is the MVP for the team this year. 

[Melissa]

We were at the game today, and the crowd was electric from the start. It was exceptionally loud and on our feet and finally so very festive.

We’re over the moon that we were able to take my 80-year old disabled veteran father-in-law out to the game from the VA rehab ward in his wheelchair. Folks were high-fiving him as they came up the stairs to join the throng on the concourse.

Actually, words fail me in trying to convey the atmosphere. Such hope and excitement turning to wonder and joy. People were dancing in their seats, they were singing out on the plaza, and leaping with nearly ecstatic enthusiasm down the streets.

On to tomorrow! Go Twins!!

 

[Aerodeliria]

48 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Excellent win. I was nervous as hell, but every time the Jays tried to get the game, someone stepped up from the Twins and shut it back down. That's really good to see, and hopefully gives the team confidence going into game two.

Royce Lewis...what else is there to say? No moment is too big for him. Just stay healthy young man, because your star burns bright.

Pablo Lopez sure looked like a Game One starter today. Very nice work from him, and then the bullpen slammed the door. Twins starting pitching looks like a playoff rotation to believe in.

I'm not worried about Polanco. No, he didn't have a strong game at 3B, but he's a heck of a player and he will be fine. I see a big impact for him coming.

That play by Correa to get Bichette was brilliant. Not a lot of players can make that play: first getting to that ball behind Polanco when you're so far to 2B, then fielding it cleanly, then making the smart and strong throw to home...that's wonderful SS play. I love watching him play defense out there.

To me, that was the play of the game. (Polanco shouldn't be in the field. Bring him in as a pinch-hitter or something like that.)

[Aerodeliria]

9 minutes ago, Melissa said:

We were at the game today, and the crowd was electric from the start. It was exceptionally loud and on our feet and finally so very festive.

We’re over the moon that we were able to take my 80-year old disabled veteran father-in-law out to the game from the VA rehab ward in his wheelchair. Folks were high-fiving him as they came up the stairs to join the throng on the concourse.

Actually, words fail me in trying to convey the atmosphere. Such hope and excitement turning to wonder and joy. People were dancing in their seats, they were singing out on the plaza, and leaping with nearly ecstatic enthusiasm down the streets.

On to tomorrow! Go Twins!!

 

It's a wonderful story that you can keep among your most treasured memories!

[Mortimerkenny21]

So happy about this win! Can we just please take out the Blue Jays tomorrow? Get 4 0r 5 guys in the line up to get the bats cracking like Royce did today! Put the petal to metal. Very strong pitching, elite defense by Taylor, Correa, & Solano. Let's do it again except with more offense. Take the series tomorrow, a game 3 will be too nerve-racking!

[Aerodeliria]

2 hours ago, glunn said:

Now that the 18 year old monkey is off our back it's time to go all the way.

That was more like an overweight gorilla, so the relief is even greater.

[Aerodeliria]

1 hour ago, Althebum82 said:

Clearly Lewis needs to stay in the DH slot.  3B for him is too risky.

Polanco was a logical candidate to try at 3B, but let's instead switch to Farmer, Solano, or Castro for game 2 to address the obvious weakness of the logic.

Polanco will still find a way to make an important contribution to this team's success, one way or another.

 

 

Yes, Farmer or Castro at 3rd...Polanco on the bench. He can be used as a pinch-hitter.

[Lefty61]

Great win, was sweating it out in the 8th there!  Now that the Twins have plated their first post season win at Target Field, its feeling like the tide has turned,  especially with Lewis channelling 1987 G-Man!

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

nobody is talking about Juliens fielding. Had a chance to get two and defaults to first. At a minimum he needs to get the lead runner. And then makes a mess of a pretty routine liner.

So you're benching Julien on Wednesday? Not me until we are ahead in the 7th.

[Jocko87]

33 minutes ago, Melissa said:

We were at the game today, and the crowd was electric from the start. It was exceptionally loud and on our feet and finally so very festive.

We’re over the moon that we were able to take my 80-year old disabled veteran father-in-law out to the game from the VA rehab ward in his wheelchair. Folks were high-fiving him as they came up the stairs to join the throng on the concourse.

Actually, words fail me in trying to convey the atmosphere. Such hope and excitement turning to wonder and joy. People were dancing in their seats, they were singing out on the plaza, and leaping with nearly ecstatic enthusiasm down the streets.

On to tomorrow! Go Twins!!

 

Atmosphere was excellent but I’m really curious to see what it will be with an actual full house.  Another 6-8000 folks for a real sell out will be pretty epic.  Maybe we will see that tomorrow with a chance to clinch.

The dual anthems and flyover were excellent. The singer killed it on both of them but the crowd harmonizing perfectly on both gave me chills.  I’ve heard lots of crowds that sound like fighting cats but we were quite good today.  

Everything else went as planned. Even though the offense ran through Royce it was the whole lineup that ignored the splitter and ran the pitch count up.  It’s a winning postseason formula even if the big hits don’t always come. Pablo locked up his status as our guy, both with the pregame fit and the pitching.  

None of the youngsters seemed overwhelmed by the moment and the defense was on point after a shaky start. Now that we are all past that stupid streak it’s time to grind.  Finish it out tomorrow and get healthier for the next one.

 

[Hashim]

4 hours ago, Beast said:

Lopez and Lewis were amazing.  Bullpen was amazing.  Correa and Taylor’s defense, though.  They deserve just as much credit.  We lose if Correa doesn’t pull a Jeter on Polanco’s gaffe and Taylor doesn’t catch Chapman‘s deep fly to right center.

Polanco needs to be benched, he’s gonna cause us to lose games with his terrible defense. 

[Jocko87]

I wonder if it was part of the plan to get all the Minnesota natives into this first game.  Varland was a bit of a stretch in that spot.  

[jimbo92107]

Two indelible memories:

1. Carlos Correa's backup of Polo's goof was on the same level as the one by Yankees SS Derek Jeter. Nobody practices such things.

2. Nick Gordon flogging the dugout railing with his towel. Never think this guy doesn't love baseball. 

Oh yeah, Royce's homers, Pablo's pitching, and Taylor's dive were great, too.

Oh, and now we know why Duran threw extra curveballs in his final regular season appearance. He wanted to surprise Toronto with a new wrinkle. Boy, did it work! They were muttering cuss words at the plate!