My buddy and I went to Target Field tonight for the Twins vs Orioles series opener. As big Twins fans, not only did we know this series was big with where us and Baltimore is in the AL Postseason rankings. We also saw former Baltimore pitcher in Dean Kremer make his Target Field debut vs his former team. And I got to say, it was one of the most fun nights I have had at Target Field in 2026.
With the season only having a month and a half left, every game is more meaningful and tonight Target field felt like it. For a series that the two team desperately needed, it wasn’t a sold out no room game. But in a season where the Twins have had a lot of empty seats and flat crowds, this one had just over 20,000 in attendance. While that number wasn’t great, it looked to be more packed and also the crowd felt engaged and decently loud which for a big series was great to see. It was also great as a Twins fan to see them bounce back in a big way after a 3-6 road trip in which 5 losses were by 1 run with three being walk-off losses. Plus Kremer in his first big start at Target field after signing with us in a. spot where I was wondering about the move dazzled against his former team. Going 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R and 7 K’s. Minnesota also won 9-5 behind a big game from Austin Martin and a big 3 run home run from Josh Bell.
The atmosphere for a game like this is why August/September baseball is so fun when your team has at least a fighting chance for a Playoff spot. It is when the more engaged and smart Baseball fans attend instead of the casual fan that doesn’t know what simple baseball terms mean. I saw it in 2023 as a Twins fan when I went to games in August against Arizona, Detroit and Texas. The AZ win was a 12-1 game when Joe Mauer was getting inducted into the Twins hall of fame, the Detroit win was a packed house in a game vs a divisional rival we needed to beat and although unfortunately the Texas series wasn’t that packed, it was one of the most engaged and loud crowds I have heard Target Field have. Then in 2024 I went to a big doubleheader vs Cleveland when both of us were competing for the division in August and both games felt like massive games with how loud and fun the crowds were.
I have also experienced this in other stadiums, 2024 a group I’m with went to a Brewers game vs the New York Mets in the final week of the regular season. Milwaukee won 6-0 in a game that literally was a Postseason preview matchup and the crowd felt like a postseason crowd. Then I went to a game vs Cincinnati last year on the same weekend when Milwaukee was fighting for the No. 1 seed and Cincy was fighting for the last playoff spot. That crowd that was also packed, was super loud and boisterous although Milwaukee fell 7-4.
I can’t afford to go to Playoff games or if I can afford them at least not now. Twins games, unless they’re a weekend I can’t go since i’m in college for not too much longer and Brewers I guess I could but only if i’m offered tickets. So attending these high stakes late season games are some of the funnest ones to go to for diehard baseball fans like me and I encourage others reading this to do the same. Nights like this are why I love baseball.
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