When we last left the 2006 Minnesota Twins, they were weathering injuries while continuing to win. With seventeen contests left in the season, only 1.5 games separated them from AL Central-leading Detroit.
The next two weeks produced more of the same: a 10-4 mark from September 14-September 28. Two players in particular pushed the potential playoff proceedings to the final weekend:
- The emergence of side-winding—if maybe-not-quite-teen-idol—Pat Neshek (37 IP, 53 K, 6 BB, 2.19 ERA, 0.784 WHIP, 1.4 bWAR) out of the pen.
- The return of starter Brad Radke, who could barely coax his torn labrum towards basic dental hygiene yet could somehow go five scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals on 9/28/06.
In fact, that 9/28 contest begat one of the wildest stretches in Twins franchise history: down 1-0 going into B9, Joe
Mauer homered with two outs to tie the game (because of course Joe Mauer homered with two outs to tie the game) and then Jason Bartlett won it in B10 with a walk-off single.
That thrilling victory brought the Twins into a tie with the Tigers atop the AL Central—the first time all year Minnesota grasped a share of the division’s catbird seat. This set up the season’s final weekend—the Twins hosting the White Sox for three games, and the Tigers welcoming in the 59-100 Royals:
Friday, 8/29
Despite a monumental 9th-inning rally off Sox closer Bobby Jenks, it wasn’t enough in a 4-3 L to the Pale Hose.
But hark—the Royals pulled off an epic 9-7, 11-inning victory in the Motor City!
Still tied.
Saturday, 9/30
Another 9th inning Twins rally—another “too little too late”. This time, a Matt Garza 2.2 IP, 4 ER tilt could not be dug out from in the eventual 6-3 defeat.
Again, eyes anxiously turned to Comerica Park—where KC put up a 7-spot in T1 and cruised to a 9-6 victory!
Still tied.
10/1
On the 2006 season’s last gasp, the Twins again fell behind 1-0 to the ChiSox. But this time, an RBI double from Justin Morneau and a home run from Torii Hunter broke things open in B4! A Carlos Silva Classic (5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3K) backed by shutdown pen outings from Dennys Reyes, Juan Rincon, Jesse Crain, & Joe Nathan netted a 5-1 victory.
The Twins would end 2006 at least tied for the AL Central crown.
Then, a remarkable thing happened: very few of the announced 45,182 Twins Territory mass allowed themselves to be blown out of the Dome. They stuck around as the JumboTron showed the conclusion of KC/DET.
Because there was seemingly MN magic in the air, the Royals scored four runs in T8 and the game went into extra frames tied 8-8.
In the out-of-town bonus time, KC scored twice off DET’s Kenny Rogers (of all people) and held on for the sweep.
For one single, shining day in 2006, the Minnesota Twins were atop the AL Central—and it just so happened to be the day it matters the most!
Before October 1, 2006, the Metrodome had seen its share of goosebump-inducing moments—championship homecomings & amazing World Series performances. But the outpouring of energy and pure emotion on this day belongs in that same category.
(Thank you to whoever keeps this video up on YouTube. From the Dome interior to the noise to the grandma in the Smell ‘Em shirt, it is absolute cinema!)
Sometimes, sports provide a much-needed emotional outlet for life. Though I wasn’t at the Dome for the big celebration, I watched it on television with tears streaming down my cheeks. A magical moment for all of Twins Territory, to be sure.
Ladies and gentleman…your 2006 American League Central champion Minnesota Twins!
