Twins fans euphoric - and pooped

Rene Jones Schneider, Star Tribune

Fans in the Metrodome cheered during the final innings.

By MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune

Last update: October 6, 2009 - 11:12 PM

Shannon Corbin and Katie Pettis were still shaking. Trembling, in fact.

"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Corbin, 17, of Cokato, Minn., shrieked, clutching her Homer Hankie as she and more than 54,000 other Twins fans streamed from the Metrodome after Tuesday's nail-biting, tie-breaking win.

Fans laid on their car horns, hung out vehicle windows and incited an exhausted but delirious street crowd to whoop, hoot, holler and whistle. "It was the best Twins moment in my 17 years," Pettis said.

For Bruce Buckley, of Colfax, Wis., it was the "best game ever in my 55 years!"

What a way to begin the end of the Twins' stay in the Dome. "I'm going to miss the Dome," Buckley said.

But for now, it's home for the start of the 2009 playoff season. And getting there in Tuesday's win-or-go-home game gave fans memories to match those they already hold dear.

"It reminded me of Game 6 of the '91 World Series," said Dan Mruz, of Crystal. "If you're a baseball fan -- even if you're not a Twins fan -- this is what baseball is all about. Back and forth. Back and forth in a tie-breaker."

The "electrifying, terrifying" 12-inning game left some fans hoarse from filling the Dome with ear-piercing noise. "It was emotionally, spiritually and physically draining," said Andrew Hartman of Eagan.

From the 8th inning, "it was the biggest sweat" Ben Daniels of St. Louis Park ever had during a baseball game. And the best 75 bucks he ever spent.

Ahhh, the chaos of the Dome. The tension of the marathon match-up. "It was the longest and best baseball game of my life," said 21-year-old Mike Graybill of St. Paul. "It was up and down. It's typical Minnesota sports. It's not over until it's over. There was so much energy and lots of love. Lots of Minnesota nice love."

MARY LYNN SMITH • 612-673-4788

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