Minnesota Twins set mark for postseason futility in brutal style

The Minnesota Twins have set a record for the most consecutive postseason losses in major American sports history in an absolutely brutal way.

This was supposed to be the year. By winning the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins were able to avoid facing the New York Yankees, bypassing the thorn in their side from each of the last four treks to the postseason. The Twins had lost 16 consecutive playoff games heading into Tuesday, with 13 of those losses coming to the Yankees.

Instead, they faced the lowly Houston Astros, who snuck into the postseason with a losing record due to the mediocrity of the AL West. For a time, this seemed to be what the Twins needed. Minnesota struck first with Nelson Cruz hitting an RBI double to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. Kenta Maeda was dealing, limiting the Astros offense to just two hits and three walks over his five innings.

That lead held up until the seventh inning, when the Astros tied the game on two out single to shallow center. Then, disaster struck in the ninth inning, as the Twins managed to find yet another way to lose the game.

After Sergio Romo began the inning by allowing consecutive singles, he seemed as though he was about to get out of the jam. A foul out and a fly ball to left led to two quick outs, and Springer appeared to have made the third out of the inning with a grounder to short. Instead, Gregory Polanco‘s error loaded the bases, and Romo walked Jose Altuve to force in the go-ahead run. A two run single against Caleb Thielbar gave Houston all the insurance they needed for a 4-0 victory.

That loss gives the Twins sole possession of first place in a category no one wants – playoff futility. They have now lost 17 consecutive playoff games, ending their tie with the Chicago Black Hawks. The Black Hawks had lost 16 consecutive games from 1975-1979 before eventually breaking through.

For Minnesota, there is just one more chance to end that streak. They need to win Game Two in order to keep their season alive; otherwise, it will end as another in a long line of disappointments. To add insult to injury, this time, they would be bounced by a sub .500 team that really did not belong in the playoffs in the first place.

The Minnesota Twins made postseason history on Tuesday, setting the record for the most consecutive playoff losses in any major American sport. If they do not end that streak on Wednesday, they will have the added insult of being eliminated by a team with a losing record.