No Yankees, No Problem! Twins end historic losing streak

The Twins snapped the longest playoff losing streak (0-18) in North American pro sports history on Tuesday

By AJ Johnson

Pablo López did something on Tuesday during game one of the Minnesota Twins WIld Card Series against the Toronto Blue Jays that no Twins pitcher has accomplished in twenty years: he actually won a postseason game. It was the Twins first postseason win since Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS against the New York Yankees at the old Yankee Stadium, in a game where Johan Santana out pitched Mike Mussina.  The Twins ended their 18-game postseason losing streak in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Blue Jays with a 3-1 victory.

López — who entered the stadium wearing a Santana jersey — held the Blue Jays to one run in 5 2/3 innings and he got plenty of help from Royce Lewis. The No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft swatted a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo homer in the third inning. He’s only the third player to go deep in his first two career postseason at-bats. Minnesota took the lead three batters into the game and never looked back.

The Twins 18-game losing streak was the most historic in postseason history. It wasn’t just the longest postseason losing streak in baseball history. It was the longest losing streak in the history of all major North American pro sports leagues.

The losing streak spanned multiple generations of players, multiple managers, and even multiple home ballparks. The Twins are now 1-5 all-time at Target Field in the postseason after Tuesday’s victory. 

During the 18 game, 20 year losing streak, the Twins lost 2 games to the Astros, 3 games to the A’s and 13 games to the Yankees. Safe to say that the Twins are happy that the Yanks have already begun their winter break.