For the second time in team history and the first time since 1965, the Minnesota Twins have won 100 games in a single season.
Win No. 100 came Friday night in a 6-2 victory over the Royals, with the game called in the seventh inning as severe thunderstorms brought torrential rainfall to Kansas City. While the Twins were waiting for the game to be called, their rivals in the AL Central were eliminated from playoff contention.
Cleveland’s 93 victories were not enough in a top-heavy American League as they fell short in the AL wild-card race, with the Athletics and Rays clinching the two bids to compete in a one-game playoff for the right to face the Astros in the best-of-five American League Divisional Series.
Minnesota is officially bound for New York to face the Yankees in a best-of-five series after the Astros clinched the best record in the AL Friday night.
On Friday night, it was Miguel Sano, who batted lead-off for the first time in his career, who led the Twins with a pair of hits, including a two-run homer into the fountains in left-center field.
Ryan LaMarre also hit a two-run homer and Nelson Cruz added three hits for the Twins, which was plenty of offense on a night that Jose Berrios allowed just two runs over six innings.
The game was postponed with the Royals set to come to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning.
If the Twins win Saturday and Sunday, they’ll tie the franchise record of 102 wins set by the 1965 team.
