Major League Baseball

NO MINNY HAPPY RETURN

Published Oct. 11, 2010 10:10 p.m. ET

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Next time, maybe the Twins will just stay at home and save themselves the trouble.

Minnesota was swept out of the playoffs for the third straight time after imploding against the Yankees and being put out of their misery in Game 3 of the AL Division Series last night with a 6-1 loss.

The AL Central stalwarts have now dropped 12 straight postseason games - nine of those coming against the Yankees. It's the second-longest postseason losing streak, since the Red Sox lost 13 in a row from 1986-1995.

"It's tough to say that they don't have our number," first baseman Michael Cuddyer said. "I think the number is nine now. . . . It [stinks], plain and simple."

Last night, at least, they managed to not blow a lead for the first time in those nine games, thanks largely to Yankees starter Phil Hughes' dominance. But the result was the same.

"I don't know what you want to call the streak, but I don't think it's gonna weigh on us," center fielder Denard Span said. "I've got a good feeling we'll eventually get over the hump. . . . It's two years in a row now we've been swept same team. It's not a good feeling. I think we're better than this. Too bad we didn't show it."

And though the Twins said throughout the series that they weren't intimidated by the Yankees, it didn't look like that on the field.

"I think if you just look at the games, I don't think it's called domination," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "On the record-wise, yes, they've won nine in a row. That's not dominating us, other than wins and losses, the games are really close."

Right fielder Jason Kubel was a little more realistic.

"It doesn't get any easier as it keeps adding on and it makes it kind of tough," Kubel said. "We keep saying, 'Next year, we'll get these guys,' and it hasn't worked out."

Part of the reason for that is the lack of production from catcher Joe Mauer, who has one RBI in three postseason series. Mauer also didn't lend any credence to the thought that the Yankees' success was getting to the Twins.

"Every year is different," Mauer said. "I know it's hard for you guys to believe that."

As for the Yankees getting into the Twins' heads, Mauer said: "I'm not even gonna get into that."

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