The following is part of our simulation of the 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates season, using Out of the Park Baseball (OOTP). We simulate the season each day, as it was originally scheduled, and with no input from any of us, all to give you a Pirates team to follow this year. You can follow the simulation by inning and make it seem like a game, or you can skip to the end and find out what happens.
The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Los Angeles Dodgers today after splitting the first two games of the series. Joe Musgrove (1-1, 2.42) goes up against Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 3.71).
Lineups
1st Inning
Kershaw set the Pirates down in order, with two ground outs, and a strikeout against Kevin Newman.
Musgrove responded with a fly out to right and a ground out to first. He hit Mookie Betts in the back with a pitch, then Betts stole second. Cody Bellinger hit a two run homer to right to put the Dodgers up 2-0. Max Muncy strikes out to end the inning.
Dodgers 2, Pirates 0
2nd Inning
Bryan Reynolds reached base with a one-out single after Kershaw struck out Polanco. Kershaw got Frazier to line out to center, and struck out Hayes to end the inning.
Musgrove had a better inning this time around, with two ground outs and a fly out.
Dodgers 2, Pirates 0
3rd Inning
Kershaw got Maile to fly out, and Musgrove and Dyson to ground out.
Musgrove got Kershaw to ground out to short. Justin Turner follows with a 413 foot home run to center field. Seager follows with a single to center and steals second with Betts at the plate. Betts flies out to center to end the inning.
Dodgers 3, Pirates 0
4th Inning
Kevin Newman reached on an infield single to third base. Kershaw retired the next three batters on a pop out, fly out, and ground out.
Musgrove retired the Dodgers in order, finishing with a strikeout against Joc Pederson.
Dodgers 3, Pirates 0
5th Inning
Kershaw gets Frazier and Hayes to ground out to short to start the inning. Luke Maile hits a two-out double to the left field corner. Musgrove drops a single into left, but Maile is thrown out at the plate.
Gavin Lux pops out, Kershaw strikes out, and Turner grounds out.
Dodgers 3, Pirates 0
6th Inning
Dyson struck out on a check swing. Newman flew out to center. Bell hit a two-out single up the middle. Polanco grounded into a 6-4 fielder’s choice.
Musgrove retired the 2-3-4 part of the Dodgers order with two fly outs and a pop out.
Dodgers 3, Pirates 0
7th Inning
Bryan Reynolds reaches on a throwing error by Corey Seager, which allows Reynolds to advance to second. He moves to third on a ground out by Adam Frazier. Kershaw strikes out Hayes and gets Maile to ground out to short.
Max Muncy starts the inning with a solo homer to right field. Musgrove gets a fly out to center, and strikes Joc Pederson out. Blake Weiman comes in to face Gavin Lux and gets him to ground out to first.
Dodgers 4, Pirates 0
8th Inning
Colin Moran enters as a pinch hitter for Weiman and is struck out by Kershaw. Dyson singles to center, and the Dodgers go to right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly. Newman flew out to center and Bell popped out to short.
Richard Rodriguez comes in to pitch for the Pirates. Tyler White enters as a pinch hitter for Kelly. He singles to left. Turner grounds into a 3-6 fielder’s choice. Seager doubles to left-center, allowing Turner to score from first. Betts singles to bring in another runner. Bellinger singles to right, with Betts going to third. Muncy flies out to right, allowing Betts to score. James Marvel comes in to pitch for the Pirates. He walks Will Smith, then gives up a single to Pederson, bringing in a run. Marvel strikes out Lux to end the inning.
Dodgers 8, Pirates 0
9th Inning
Ross Stripling comes in to close it out for the Dodgers. Polanco flew out to left. Reynolds walks, then moves to second on a wild pitch. Seager makes a nice play to catch a liner, and doubles Reynolds off at second to end the game.
GAME RESULTS
BOX SCORE
GAME NOTES
UPDATED STANDINGS
WHAT’S NEXT
The Pirates are off tomorrow. They return to PNC Park on Tuesday to play a three game series against the Brewers. Here are the times and probable starters:
Tuesday, 7:05 PM EST: Adrian Houser (1-0, 2.57) vs Mitch Keller (1-2, 5.73)
Wednesday, 7:05 PM EST: Freddy Peralta (0-2, 8.00) vs Trevor Williams (1-2, 3.09)
Thursday, 12:35 PM EST: Brett Anderson (1-1, 3.68) vs Chris Stratton (2-1, 3.27)
