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. Or, you know, at least get them back on schedule. Now, onto the recap!
The simulated Detroit Tigers saw their modest two-game win streak come to an end on Monday, as they dropped a 4-1 decision against the New York Yankees. Daniel Norris only allowed one earned run in 6 1⁄3 innings, but was saddled with his first loss of the season.
The Yankees led for the entire game after pushing a run across in the bottom of the first. Norris retired the first two hitters he faced, but allowed a two-out double to Yankees second baseman D.J. LeMahieu. Norris appeared to have escaped damage when he induced a routine fly ball from cleanup hitter Aaron Judge, but the ball glanced off of Victor Reyes’ glove, and LeMahieu scored easily.
From there, it was a pitcher’s duel. Norris was far more efficient than Yankees lefthander James Paxton, but the hard-throwing southpaw kept the Tigers off the scoreboard, even as they drove his pitch count north of 100 through six innings. Paxton struck out nine and did not walk a batter, though the Tigers threatened a few times. Miguel Cabrera was particularly unlucky, with three separate lineouts.
The Yankees pushed across an important insurance run in the top of the seventh. Aaron Judge singled to lead off the inning, but was thrown out at second when Miguel Andujar hit a sharp ground ball to first. The Tigers were unable to turn the double play, however, and it came back to bite them. Andujar went first to third on a bloop single from Gleyber Torres, then scored on a deep sacrifice fly off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton. The Tigers answered in the bottom of the inning when Jeimer Candelario hit a solo home run off Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder, bringing the score to 2-1.
That would be all the offense they could muster, however. Gio Urshela hit a two-run homer off Rony Garcia (who had come on to record the final two outs in the seventh) in the top of the eighth, stretching New York’s lead to 4-1, and the Tigers were unable to get anything going against the teeth of the Yankees bullpen. The loss drops them to 11-11 on the season.
Up next
The Tigers have three more games remaining against the Yankees, including a showdown with Gerrit Cole on Thursday, before a three-game set against the San Diego Padres over the weekend.