Twenty years ago this week, Johan Santana was doing more than just dealing for the Twins. He was helping Minnesota carve out a slice of MLB history at the Metrodome.
On Aug. 20, 2006, the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 7-3 behind another trademark Santana start. He gave up one run over seven innings, allowed six hits and struck out five, and the win pulled Minnesota to within one game of Chicago in the American League Wild Card race.
The bigger story, though, was the streak that had been building every time Santana took the ball at home. Minnesota had won his previous 19 starts at the Metrodome, and No. 20 made the Twins the first team in the modern era, dating back to 1900, to win 20 straight home games started by the same pitcher. Santana was 13-0 with a 2.03 ERA during that run.
For Twins fans, the whole scene came with a soundtrack. Before each home start, Santana would blast Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina,” a pregame ritual even manager Ron Gardenhire had come to enjoy.
"That's a song we love to hear," Gardenhire said before Santana's start against Chicago. "That means Santana is pitching."
Baseball has had plenty of pitchers tied to a signature song. Mariano Rivera’s walks from the Yankee Stadium bullpen to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” turned into one of the most famous entrances in the sport, while Edwin Díaz has made a modern splash with Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco.”
Santana’s version was different. “Gasolina” wasn’t the warning that the game was about to end.
It was the signal that another start from Minnesota’s future two-time Cy Young winner was about to begin. And even with a blister and a split nail on the middle finger of his throwing hand, he still handled the White Sox.
The streak didn’t stop at 20. Minnesota eventually won 23 straight home games started by Santana, and he went 16-0 across that stretch before the regular season ended.
The Twins don’t have that kind of home dominance now, and they don’t have Johan Santana either. For a while, though, the Metrodome had its own unmistakable soundtrack - and its own ace.
In Other News...
Twins Fans Should Be Careful Before Regretting This Pitching Move
Simeon Woods Richardsons path has become one of those small roster decisions that can linger around a season. The Twins designated him in late May and later sent him to Toronto for cash, and he has looked sharp enough since then to catch the eye, turning in a 0.55 ERA over six games for the Blue Jays. But the underlying picture is less tidy, with a high walk rate and a low BABIP hinting that the results may not be quite as stable as they first appear.
Minnesota also had a chance to circle back when Toronto designated him for assignment, and it passed. That call looks a little less dramatic now because the Twins have since bolstered their bullpen with other additions, giving them more relief depth without needing to revisit the old move. It is the kind of transaction that can tempt second-guessing in the moment, but the broader roster context makes the regret a bit harder to justify. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Pitching Depth Takes Another Hit With Rojas In Trouble
The Twins pitching depth took another hit this week when Kendry Rojas was placed on the minor league injured list with an oblique strain. Rojas had to leave his start for Triple-A St. Paul after just one inning, adding another layer of concern to a pitching group that has already been stretched by injuries and roster shuffling as Minnesota tries to stay in the playoff race.
Rojas setback matters because the Twins have been leaning on every bit of organizational depth they can find, and this is the kind of injury that can linger and complicate a pitchers timeline. With the season now in jeopardy for one of their upper-level arms, Minnesota is left trying to patch together innings while the bigger-picture pressure keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Former Twin Is Making Minnesota's Trade Look Worse By The Week
Ty France has quietly turned into one of the better value stories in the National League, and his latest stretch is only making Minnesotas decision look rougher. After a down offensive season sent him to San Diego on a minor-league deal, he has become one of the Padres most productive players and has even climbed to the top of the clubs offensive leaderboard in several key categories.
For the Twins, the hard part is how directly Frances resurgence ties back to their own trade chain. Minnesota dealt him to Toronto in 2025 before the Padres landed him, and now San Diego is getting strong production from a player making just $1.35 million this year. In a game where roster decisions are judged almost immediately, France is becoming the kind of former Twin who keeps the second-guessing alive. [Read more 🡒]