Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 10.4.23

Sports That Aren't HockeyTwinsVikingsGophersWildLynxTimberwolvesPWHLLoons

Oct 4

Written By Ryan Stanzel

Tell a friend to sign up for The Takeout here!

It’s Over - Twins Win

Two days before the Minnesota Twins won their last playoff game, the Montreal Expos played their last game. There’s an entire generation of baseball fans who don’t know the Washington Nationals used to be somebody else. That same generation hadn’t seen a Twins playoff win. Until now.

The Twins snapped the longest playoff losing streak in ANY major professional sport - 18 games - with an emphatic 3-1 win in Game 1 against Toronto behind a pair of Royce Lewis home runs. The Twins can win their first playoff series since 2002 (Oakland in the ALDS) this afternoon at 3:38 p.m. Sonny Gray will take the mound.

Lewis, who missed the last two weeks of the regular season with a hamstring injury, wasn’t even sure he could play 24 hours before the game. But you don’t reinjure a hamstring running out a home run. He became the third MLB player in history to homer in each of his first two career post-season at bats (Gary Gaetti was one of the others). He smacked a shot to left center for a 2-0 lead in the first, and followed that with an opposite field blast two innings later.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1709312332743020835
https://twitter.com/AlexMicheletti/status/1709323009574469728

Three runs was all Pablo Lopez and company needed. Lopez left with one out in the sixth after allowing one run, and outside of a leadoff double to Vlad Guerrero Jr. allowed by Caleb Jax, there was never as much of a threat against the bullpen. I gasped out loud on my couch when Jhoan Duran followed up five curveballs with a 101 mph fastball.

Carlos Correa played too after ending the season injured. He was quiet offensively but without an amazing play, picking up up Jorge Polanco’s misplay at third base, the game could have been far different. Without that play, it’s 3-1 with a couple guys on base.

Now an entire state, and entire region, can finally exhale. It was entertaining hearing Yankee broadcaster Michael Kay and A-Rod on the call…pretty brutal ESPN broadcast, actually. Do we need a sideline reporter interviewing a player after a home run in a playoff game? Adds nothing, skip it.

Despite a less than sellout crowd - you could get into the game for about $10 - it was raucous. Some called it the loudest outdoor stadium they’ve been in. It oughta be lubed up for Game 2, as well. Just think, if the Twins run the table, they’ll be 13-18 in their last 31 playoff games.

Mason Shaw Signs in Iowa

A feel good story for the Wild as Mason Shaw, who blew out his knee for the fourth time last season, signed a one-year contract in Iowa. He’s skating in Minneapolis but still a few months away from playing.

The Wild has been on a team building trip in Duluth and will play Chicago at home on Thursday in their penultimate pre-season game. The regular season opener is eight days away against Florida.

Loons in LA Tonight

The Loons make a one-game trip west tonight to face LAFC, fighting for their playoff lives. They’re three points back of ninth with three games to play. Wins are worth three.

Check Out Make Glove Not W.A.R.

Fun Pulltab Sports preview of the Twins series with John King and a former Twins farmhand who told us some great Kirby Puckett stories. Kinger's Royce-O-Lantern foreshadowed the rookie's two homer game in his playoff debut, plus how Kirby Puckett’s old jockstrap end up at Kinger’s house. Give us a watch:

Sponsor The Takeout

Sponsorship packages are available! The Takeout is a great spot to advertise your small business. Get thousands of eyeballs on your product every month. E-mail ryanstanzel@gmail.com