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 jumped out to an early lead, added runs throughout the game, and generally held on for dear life in an 8-5 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday evening (well, sort of) at Comerica Park.
Neither starter had it in this game, to put it lightly. The Tigers took it to Yankees lefthander Jordan Montgomery early, putting their first five hitters on base en route to a three-run first inning. Victor Reyes walked, Niko Goodrum singled, and both scored on an RBI double from Miguel Cabrera. Singles from C.J. Cron and Jonathan Schoop loaded the bases, and Cabrera scampered home on a deep sacrifice fly from Jeimer Candelario.
The Yankees struck back quickly however, with two runs of their own in the second. Giancarlo Stanton doubled to right-center, and Gleyber Torres plated him with an RBI single up the middle. Torres advanced to second on a groundout, and then scored on a double to the left field wall by Brett Gardner — who was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a triple.
The two teams traded runs for a little while after that. JaCoby Jones walked, then eventually scored on a Cabrera single in the second. Jonathan Schoop hit a solo home run in the third, which was answered by Luke Voit’s solo shot in the fourth. The Tigers were finally held scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, leaving the score at 5-3.
Even with all the hard contact, the Tigers tried to sneak Zimmermann through a fifth inning. Long story short: it didn’t work. Chris Iannetta doubled to lead off the frame, then advanced to third on a groundout. Zimmermann couldn’t get the final out, however, and D.J. LeMahieu’s RBI double ended his day. Shao-Ching Chiang came on and gave up a walk and a single — the latter of which scored the tying run — before finally retiring the side.
From there, it was all Tigers — even if it didn’t feel like it. Cabrera hit a solo home run to greet J.A. Happ in the bottom of the fifth, giving Detroit a 6-5 lead. Chiang settled in and worked two scoreless frames, and the Tigers padded their lead in the bottom of the seventh with two more runs (via RBI doubles from Cron and Cameron Maybin). Buck Farmer ran into some trouble in the eighth, but escaped danger, and Joe Jimenez shut the door in the ninth for his third save of the season.