Twins go from spectators to participants

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins gathered in their clubhouse at the Metrodome on Monday for a tense afternoon. They became Detroit fans for a day and then experienced the frustration that has accompanied that designation so often this year as the Tigers suffered their 88th loss.

Chicago's 8-2 victory over the Tigers ensured the Twins would play a one-game tiebreaker against the White Sox for the American League Central crown on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on TBS and is also available on MLB.TV. Minnesota had a free-roll on this day, however, as a Detroit victory would have clinched the division title for the Twins and averted the one-game playoff.

"It was a little nerve-wracking, like all the fans out there watching the game tonight," Nick Punto said. "But it's a lot more fun to celebrate when you have your uniform on and you're in that clubhouse -- you earn it. We have to go earn it, and we're looking forward to going out there and beating Chicago."

A vast majority of the team left without speaking to the media -- averting eye contact with the throng gathered outside the clubhouse and striding quickly from the stadium after learning their fate -- so whether players were frustrated or determined is left to speculation.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't kick myself or get a little upset," Punto said of watching Alexei Ramirez's sixth-inning grand slam off Detroit reliever Gary Glover that all but clinched the game for the White Sox. "But it is what it is. We have business to take care of in Chicago, and that's the bottom line."

A few players showed up at the Metrodome around 1:05 p.m. CT, the scheduled first pitch at U.S. Cellular Field. But a rain delay pushed the start time back three hours and four minutes, making for a long day.

Punto said the clubhouse atmosphere during the game was "pretty calm." A poker tournament was also held to pass the time. Several players, however, left in the seventh inning -- not incoincidently after Ramirez's shot put Chicago up 6-2.

The club was originally scheduled to fly out at 8 p.m. CT. Despite the delay, the team's travel plans weren't altered significantly. The game ended around 7:30 p.m. CT and the team departed almost immediately to head to the airport.

"We played good against Chicago this year," Punto said. "It's a little different in this Metrodome than it is there. But we feel real confident in the way we're playing right now and looking forward to going out there and beating Ozzie [Guillen] and the White Sox."