This postseason, Twins gave it their worst

NEW YORK

Those who think the Twins went quietly in the Bronx, those who saw their 6-1 loss as the ultimate capitulation to the Yankees, missed an important moment Saturday night, the moment when the Twins finally fought back.

Robinson Cano, the Yanks' fine second baseman, led off the fourth with a slow roller to the right of Twins first baseman Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer's throw missed pitcher Brian Duensing and smacked Yankees first base coach Mick Kelleher in what Brett Favre might call "the texting region."

Finally, the Twins made solid contact. That was the Twins' last notable blow, low or otherwise.

After all the brave talk about their ability to conquer the Yankees and their own pinstripe paranoia, the Twins lost their 12th straight playoff game and ninth straight to the Yankees on Saturday night at the Stadium, putting a melancholy coda on perhaps their worst playoff performance ever.

Their loss in the 2002 American League Championship Series was the result of a powerless lineup and an excellent opponent -- the eventual World Series champion Angels.

Their losses in the 2003 and 2004 division series were admirable, compared with this year's, because in each series the Twins won Game 1 in Yankee Stadium and came close to winning Game 2.

Their loss in 2009 to the Yankees, too, could be excused because of the Twins' participation in a draining Game 163 the night before the playoffs started in the Bronx.

This year, with home-field advantage, a perfectly aligned rotation, an inflated payroll and a veteran lineup, the Twins could offer only one excuse for their ineptitude -- Justin Morneau's concussion. Even Morneau's absence would not fully explain their hapless approach to hitting or their weak-kneed performance in Game 3.

"It's about getting hot at the right time," catcher Joe Mauer said.

His team is starting to realize that "the right time" is not August in Kansas City.

The Twins embarrassed themselves in front of the nation this week. Any savvy baseball fan watching in Toronto or Boston had to be thinking, "That team might be good enough to finish fourth in the AL East."

They called him nasty names. Then they called him a quality name -- "Torii Hunter!" -- as if bringing back Span's charismatic predecessor would at least improve the Twins' entertainment value.

Saturday, the Twins made Phil Hughes, the Yankees' promising young starter, look like Roy Halladay, even when Hughes threw 92-mph fastballs down the middle.

Hughes finished the season with a mediocre 4.19 ERA and his bosses worried about his workload. The Twins were better for Hughes' aching muscle than any masseuse, going hitless through three innings and waiting until the fifth put more than one runner on base.

The most symbolic moment of the game arrived in the fourth. The Twins trailed 2-0. Span led off with a single, bringing the veteran Orlando Hudson to the plate.

Would Span steal? Would Hudson and Span execute a hit-and-run that would energize their team? Would Hudson grind through an at-bat, putting pressure on Hughes with Mauer waiting on deck?

"Hopefully, we can do this again," Jim Thome said of the Twins' returning to the playoffs.

As his teammates packed quietly after another embarrassment, that sounded like a threat.