The Minnesota Twins put an end to a nearly 20-year drought on Tuesday with their 3-1 postseason victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series. This marked the first playoff win for the franchise since 2004, a monumental feat.
RT if this post makes you feel old 😂 pic.twitter.com/rK73kEnvqi
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 3, 2023
FOX Sports’ MLB social media page highlights how different of a time 2004 was compared to now. In 2004, the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) were still a team in Major League Baseball. The Nintendo DS, a famous handheld gaming console that has taken the world by storm since its inception, was first released in 2004.
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who went 1-for-4 at the plate in his four appearances on Tuesday, was just 10 years old when the Twins won their last playoff game in 2004 and is now the starting shortstop on the team that broke the drought. It was a great team performance from the Twins in their Game 1 victory over the Blue Jays. Royce Lewis hit two home runs, driving in all three of the Twins’ runs.
Starting pitcher Pablo Lopez stepped up for his team when it mattered most, allowing only one run while striking out three batters through 5.2 innings pitched. The bullpen had a 3-0 lead to work with when he was taken out of the game in the top of the sixth inning and they did their job to hang onto the lead and give the Twins the win.
After ending such a historic playoff drought, the Twins will need to regain their focus in preparation for Game 2 versus the Blue Jays on Wednesday, where Twins ace Sonny Gray will face off against Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios with a chance to advance to the American League Divisional Series for the first time since 2004.
