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!
Sometimes, it’s just not your day. That was the case for Matthew Boyd and the simulated Detroit Tigers on Sunday, as they dropped a 5-1 decision to the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Boyd gave up five runs on 10 hits, many of which just barely squeaked through the infield, and the Tigers offense left 12 runners on base as their three-game win streak came to an end.
Even more frustrating: the Tigers scored first in this one. Clint Frazier singled with one out in the second inning, and Grayson Greiner followed with a walk. Mariners starter Yusei Kikuchi then unleashed a wild pitch that moved both runners up. Isaac Paredes capitalized with a deep fly out that scored Frazier, but Victor Reyes popped out to end the inning.
The Mariners took the lead in the fourth, seemingly out of nowhere. Boyd gave up a pair of singles back in the first inning, but retired the next 11 batters before Carlos Gonzalez poked a weak single up the middle with two outs in the fourth to snap the streak. Evan White followed by jumping on a first pitch fastball, which just barely nicked the foul pole in left (I think, it looked foul in the game) for a two-run homer to put Seattle up 2-1.
The dam broke in the fifth. Boyd gave up three consecutive hits to lead off the inning, none hit particularly hard. The third, a bloop single off the bat of Dee Gordon, scored Joe Hudson to put the Mariners up 3-1. Mallex Smith followed with a weak popout, but Mitch Haniger drove a one-out single to right to score another run on a close play at the plate.
Boyd retired the next two hitters to end the inning, but ran into more trouble in the sixth. Dylan Moore lined a double into the left-center gap with one out, and Hudson followed with another bloop hit to put runners on the corners. Shao-Ching Chiang came on and nearly escaped the jam, but Tim Lopes just beat the throw at first to avoid an inning-ending double play, allowing a fifth Seattle run to score.
Unfortunately for Detroit, that was all for the scoring in this game. They put runners on base in each of the final three innings, but couldn’t get a key hit (or two) when needed.
With the loss, the simulated Tigers fell to 24-23 on the season. They are (or were) off on Monday before returning to action against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday evening.