Twins history: Minnesota native may have best World Series performance ever

You could argue that Shohei Ohtani had the all-time best performance in a postseason game when he hit three home runs and struck out 10 in six scoreless innings to complete a four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in this year’s National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. While Ohtani’s production in that game is likely unparalleled, Los Angeles had minimal pressure for a playoff game and already led the series 3-0. Factoring in the clutch factor, Ohtani didn’t have the best single-game postseason performance. Jack Morris did.

Twins History: Remembering Jack Morris’ Gem in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series

Thirty-four years ago today, Minnesota native Jack Morris pitched a 10-inning shutout to lead the Twins to a 1-0 victory against the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, giving the Twins their second World Series victory in history.

It’s something impressive Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his last two postseason starts for Los Angelespitching two complete games in which he allowed just one run each in the NLCS and World Series. But imagine if he allowed zero runs instead of one in those starts. Now imagine if he did it in winner-take-all games. That’s exactly what Morris did 34 years ago during Game 7.

In Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, Morris was opposed on the mound by Braves ace John Smoltz, who pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings. A solid start for Smoltz, only Morris, who struck out eight and allowed seven hits and two walks, had a better outing.

Due to Morris’ heroics, the Twins were still in the game despite scoring zero runs heading into the 10th inning. In the top of the 10th, Morris retired the side without allowing a runner. Dan Gladden led off the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double off Alejandro Peña, then Gladden advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Chuck Knoblauch. Intentional walks to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek forced outs on each base before Gene Larkin hit a walk-off single to left field to give Minnesota its second World Series victory in five years.