Call to the pen
Fansided

Minnesota Twins desperately seeking momentum after walk-off win

By Steven Kubitza

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 10: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run walk off home run against the New York Yankees in the ninth inning of the game at Target Field on June 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Yankees 7-5. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 10: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run walk off home run against the New York Yankees in the ninth inning of the game at Target Field on June 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Yankees 7-5. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Nothing has gone as planned for the Minnesota Twins so far in 2021. The team enters Friday with a 25-37 record, which puts them 13 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central division.

But Thursday did provide some hope that the team hasn’t given up just yet. The Twins were taking on the New York Yankees and had to face off against Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth, trailing 5-3.

It would have been so easy for the Twins to fold and lose once again. But the veteran stars of the group, who don’t want to waste a valuable year, brought home a victory.

A much-needed walk-off win for the Twins

That bottom of the ninth frame was a wild one. It all started with Chapman allowing a single to Jorge Polanco. That was not ideal, but certainly not anything to panic about. That was until Josh Donaldson stepped up to the plate and hit a game-tying home run.

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Yankees fans had to be absolutely losing their minds as the team was just three outs away from a sweep. It only got worse as Chapman allowed another runner, only for Nelson Cruz to call game.

The fact the Twins are still 25-37 means this win didn’t exactly shoot them into playoff contention. However, it should serve as a huge boost before a weekend series against a tough Houston Astros squad.

The Twins entered the season with expectations of not just competing for a playoff spot, but of winning the division. But key players have struggled and the pitching staff has allowed an American League-worst 327 runs. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the only MLB team with a worse total.

Cruz is a free agent after the season and is already 40 years old. He wants to win and it is likely he gets traded if the Twins cannot rebound and climb out of the basement of the AL. Yet there is a possibility fans in Minnesota will look back at Thursday’s game as a turning point and proof the talent is there to win.

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As long as the Twins don’t get swept by the Astros, there is still plenty of time for hope in 2021. That hope, however, likely depends on the team getting at least average performances from the pitching staff on a regular basis.

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