Twins took matters into their own hands Friday night, securing their place in the 2023 MLB playoffs with a 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of a packed Target Field that has seen all too few of these nights.
With the Cleveland Guardians winning with a walkoff over the Baltimore Orioles in the 9th inning, the Twins needed to win to become AL Central Champions on Friday, and they got over the line despite some nervy moments.
It’s the first time the Twins have made the playoffs since 2020, and only the fourth time they’ve reached the postseason since Target Field opened in 2010.
Almost certain to be the No. 3 seed, the Twins now face a wait to see who their opponents will be in the Wild Card round, with the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners the most likely.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙏𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡!!! 👑👑#MNTwins 8#GoHalos 6 pic.twitter.com/GMKPFIegZt
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) September 23, 2023
Michael A. Taylor opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to center that drove in Max Kepler.
Twins loaded up the bases in the bottom of the fourth before recording an out. Matt Wallner drew a bases-load walk. Alex Kiriloff hit a sac-fly to center driving in another run as the Twins stretched their lead to 3-0.
But the script had a few twists, with the Angels drawing level in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-run home run from Jared Walsh and a Nolan Schanuel RBI single.
Kiriloff’s sixth-inning solo blast proved the go-ahead run putting the Twins back on top 4-3, before Jorge Polanco’s RBI double capped off a four-run seventh-inning for the Twins.
But again the Angels struck back, with a Logan O’Hoppe two-run homer to left field in the top of the eighth drawing them to within three.
Twins closer Jhoan Duran allowed one-run off two hits but struck out Zach Neto for the final out as the Twins clinched the AL Central.
Pablo Lopez allowed three earned runs in six-innings of work, striking out seven Angels batters.
Needed this, Alex. 🎣#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/lPe2UIvFIG
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 23, 2023
