Like many of our friends throughout the SB Nation network, we are simulating the 2020 MLB season with MLB The Show 20. While we are unable to stream the games as they would otherwise be happening, we will try to get ahead of the curve and post about the games on the same day they would have taken place. Now, onto the recap!
The simulated Detroit Tigers lost in familiar fashion on Tuesday, this time to the Cleveland Indians by a 6-3 score. They scored some early runs, but were not able to keep pace as their pitching staff eventually crumbled in the middle innings. The victim this time? Righthander Ivan Nova, who took the loss after giving up five runs in a 6-3 defeat at Progressive Field.
The Tigers struck first in this one, taking an early lead in the second. C.J. Cron hit a double off the left field wall with one out, and advanced to third on a long fly out from Niko Goodrum. Jonathan Schoop followed with his second home run in as many games, giving the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.
Unfortunately, that lead was short-lived. The Indians put two runners on to open the bottom of the second, and designated hitter Ryan McMahon turned on an inside pitch from Nova for a three-run homer.
Both starters settled in for a couple innings after that, then narrowly escaped danger in the fifth. Austin Romine singled with one out in the top of the frame, and was on the move in a 3-2 count, but a sharp Jeimer Candelario liner found an outfielder’s glove, doubling off Romine. In the bottom of the inning, Nova worked around a leadoff triple from Jose Ramirez — one of three hits for him on the game — to keep the score at 3-2.
Nova’s luck ran out in the sixth, however. He flubbed a slow roller back to the mound, allowing McMahon to reach base with one out. Then, after a lineout, Roberto Perez hit an 0-2 curveball back up the middle to put two aboard. This brought the top of the Indians order back around, and Jose Ramirez made the Tigers pay with a two-run triple, extending the lead to 5-2.
Romine homered in the top of the seventh to bring the Tigers back within two runs, but any Tigers comeback attempts were snuffed out when Franmil Reyes answered with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the inning off Michael Fulmer. Adam Cimber struggled in the eighth, loading the bases, but Brad Hand came in and struck out Goodrum, ending the threat.
Oliver Perez worked a scoreless ninth, because apparently he’s Cleveland’s closer now.
Hard contact worked against the Tigers in this one
The BABIP gods were not on Detroit’s side on Tuesday.
- Jeimer Candelario lined into the aforementioned double play in the fifth inning, killing a potential rally.
- C.J. Cron hit a sharp single to left with two on in the eighth, but the ball got to left fielder Domingo Santana too quickly for Cameron Maybin to score on the play.
- Austin Romine hit a frozen rope to short in the ninth, but what could have been his third hit of the game was instead a fielder’s choice; the ball glanced off of Francisco Lindor’s glove, but fell nearby, and Schoop was easily thrown out at second.