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 kept it close for a while, but a four-run sixth inning helped propel the Colorado Rockies to a 7-3 victory and series sweep over the Tigers. Nolan Arenado continued his tyrannical reign over Tigers pitching with a home run and two RBI.
It took a little while to get going in this one. The Rockies left runners stranded on base in the first two innings before breaking through against Tigers starter Ivan Nova in the third. Raimel Tapia lined a pitch off the plate down the right field line for a one-out triple, and Arenado followed with an RBI single to put the Rockies up 1-0. The Tigers answered in the bottom of the third when Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer, his seventh of the season.
The score stayed there until the sixth, when the Rockies broke the game open. Arenado led off with a solo home run to left field, one he appeared to hit off the handle of the bat. David Dahl hit a one-out single later in the frame, but Nova induced a pop-out from Josh Fuentes, and appeared poised to get out of the inning with the score tied. But a weak ground ball from Ian Desmond eluded Nova on the mound, putting two runners on. Garrett Hampson and Dom Nunez capitalized on the gaffe, driving in three runs before Nova was lifted from the game.
Though the simulated Tigers have capped off bigger comebacks so far this year, the 5-2 deficit was too much for them in this one. Colorado added runs in the eighth and ninth, and a last gasp rally from the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth only yielded one meaningless run.
With the loss, the Tigers drop to 19-18 on the year. They are off on Thursday before kicking off a home series against the Cleveland Indians (yes, again) on Friday.