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!
After getting shut out in Friday’s series opener, the simulated Detroit Tigers nearly turned the tables on the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, as a meaningless ninth inning homer spoiled Detroit’s shutout bid in a 6-1 victory. C.J. Cron did the most damage for the Tigers, with a home run and three RBI.
Cron drove in the Tigers’ first run of the game, which came in the top of the first. Harold Castro, Cameron Maybin, and Miguel Cabrera led off the game with back-to-back-to-back singles, loading the bases for Cron with no outs. Cron couldn’t quite replicate his grand slam from Thursday’s win, but he drove a fly ball deep enough into the outfield to score Castro from third, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. But even after both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, the Tigers were unable to add to their lead in the first.
After a couple of scoreless frames, the Tigers padded their lead with solo home runs in the fourth and sixth. The first came from Jonathan Schoop, who put 106 balls into the seats as a member of the Orioles from 2013 to 2018. His solo shot, his 16th of the season, put the Tigers up 2-0. After O’s starter Kohl Stewart departed in the fourth, Cron greeted lefthander Wade LeBlanc with a solo homer to deep center field, his 25th of the year.
The Tigers were able to slowly add to their lead throughout the game thanks to their excellent pitching. Jordan Zimmermann didn’t miss many bats, but avoided hard contact during his outing, which only lasted 4 1⁄3 innings due to an injury suffered on a grounder back to the mound. Shao-Ching Chiang picked up right where Zimmermann left off, and threw 3 2⁄3 innings of scoreless ball before the Tigers broke the game open in the eighth.
Once again, Cron came through with the big blow. Clint Frazier, who replaced Maybin in the first inning, led off the inning with a walk, and a Cabrera single moved him into scoring position. Cron then added his second extra-base hit of the game, this one a double to the wall in center field that scored Frazier. Niko Goodrum followed with an RBI single to extend his hit streak to 15 games, and Cron came home on a Christin Stewart sacrifice fly to put the game out of reach, even after Tyler Alexander coughed up a homer in the ninth to spoil the shutout.
Injury updates
The Tigers didn’t come out of this game unscathed. Both Jordan Zimmermann and Cameron Maybin left the game early with injuries. Zimmermann should be fine, and is listed as day to day following his injury, but Maybin suffered a fractured wrist and will be out for one or two months.
Sound off in the comments below on who the Tigers should call up!
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