Streak stretches on: Twins take 16th straight playoff loss

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The night began with Torii Hunter throwing the ceremonial first pitch to Joe Mauer, energizing the over-capacity crowd gathered for the first postseason game at Target Field since 2010, the year the ballpark opened.

The evening ended in familiar deflation for the Twins, with two more runners left on base to add to the pile and further frustration and bewilderment bedeviling a franchise and fan base that's been waiting 28 years and counting for another World Series.

From Hunter and Mauer to Eddie Rosario and Mitch Garver, the names and styles have changed. But the results have stayed the same as long as the Twins are stuck with the nemesis New York Yankees in the playoffs.

"That's a good team, man," Garver said after the 5-1 defeat Monday night gave the Yankees a sweep of the AL Division Series and stretched the longest postseason losing streak in major league history to 16 games.

Thirteen of those are thanks to the Yanks.

"They beat us, you know? They pitched better. They hit better," designated hitter Nelson Cruz said. "Definitely was a shame."

The Twins, who became the first 100-win team swept in the Division Series, matched the North American major sports record set by the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks from 1975-79 for consecutive postseason losses and dropped to 2-16 against the Yankees in the playoffs. Their last playoff win was the 2004 ALDS opener, when Mauer was a rookie catcher who didn't play because of a knee injury and Hunter was the star center fielder.

Outscored 23-7 in this series, the Twins batted just .218. After hitting a record 307 homers, they went deep four times in the three games, all solo shots. They were 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 overall in Game 3, falling to 3 for 28 in the series with 25...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Streak-stretches-on-Twins-take-16th-straight-14500092.php