Make it 18 straight playoff losses for the Twins, who were once again swept out of the postseason with a 2-1 loss to the Astros on Wednesday at Target Field.
Minnesota managed just two hits in Wednesday’s game and six hits in the series, getting swept in the best-of-three series by a team that finished under .500 (29-31) and had the fewest road victories in the league (9).
Like in Tuesday’s first game of the series, the Twins left the bases loaded without scoring in the first inning and never really threatened again from there with the exception of a game-tying RBI double from Nelson Cruz in the fifth inning.
Minnesota’s pitching was quite good in the two games, doing more than enough to give one of baseball’s most feared lineups an opportunity win. But a solo home run by Carlos Correa in the seventh inning, off of right-handed reliever Cody Stashak, proved to be enough to overcome the Bomba Squad.
The Twins again played without Josh Donaldson due to a calf injury, and were also without Byron Buxton (undisclosed) to start the game. Buxton pinch ran for Cruz in the eighth only to be picked off first base to end the inning.
Eddie Rosario also left the game early because he was ejected for arguing after striking out, which meant Jake Cave took his place, ultimately striking out with Buxton on first base and one out in the eighth.
Perhaps the lone bright spot in the ugly series was Alex Kirilloff, who made his MLB debut Wednesday and laced his first big-league hit to the outfield and also made a sliding catch in right field.
But otherwise, the seemingly never-ending run of postseason disappointment continues for at least another year.
