Red hot Minnesota is heading back to the post-season after a dynamite tie breaking instant classic win over the Tigers

SCOTT JACOBS

The playoffs start tomorrow, but tonight MLB got it’s cinderella story.

Cinderella wears red and blue.

Cinderella is missing one of it’s biggest stars, Justin Morneau, who’s been out for the season for weeks.

Cinderella was down three games in the division with just four to play.

And Cinderella just won the AL Central.

In front of a raucous Metrodome crowd, dying to see some more playoff baseball before Target Field opens up, the Twins faithful got their wish as Minnesota outlasted a game Tigers team 6-5, pulling out a back and forth thriller in the 12th inning.  Walking off to a wild celebration, courteousy of Alexi Casilla.

What a game.  What an incredible run it’s been for Minnesota, which clawed back from a 7 game deficit in August to come all the way back, and shock the Motor City.

The Tigers had their chances, but they couldn’t seal the deal.  And so shortly into the 12th, almost five hours into a wild see-saw battle, the Twins sealed Detroit’s fate.

The Twins have now won 17 of their last 21 games, and have “Colorado Rockies 2007″ written all over them.  Unfortunately, their road to the World Series begins in the Bronx, with a Yankees team that has owned them.  But that’s neither here nor there.  Tigers fans will probably bring up the SI Cover Jinx, and who can blame them: two weeks ago the magazine was talking playoffs, now the Tigers and their fans can only think what if.

Look at it how you will.  The Twins resillience was something of beauty.  Detroit’s collapse, something for the Guiness books.

Can we just have one of these play in games every year?  Unlike the NCAA tournament every one of the past three of these have been great.

The playoffs have yet to start, but wow, I can’t wait for the post-season to begin now.

Minnesota suck this in.  Your magic carpet ride still has at least three games left!

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