Minnesota Twins MLB The Show September Simulation: Game 163

[Cooper Carlson]

The Twins fought so hard to reach this point after starting September 2.5 games behind Cleveland. Pineda was the only starter available so he got the nod. Could the Twins avoid the wild card game and win the final game of the regular season? Come find out!Check out the previous editions of this series: April, May, June, July, August.

 

Game 163: Indians (102-60) @ Twins (102-60)

• Minnesota SP: Michael Pineda (4-0, 2.54 ERA)
• Cleveland SP: Aaron Civale (10-6, 4.16)
• Twins won 9 of last 10 games to get to game 163

The first inning got off to a rough start with base hits from Mercado and Ramirez along with a walk to load the bases for Lindor. Pineda was able to get Lindor to strikeout swinging and then get Delino Deshields to strikeout to escape the inning.

 

The Twins then came up to bat for the first time and also got an immediate threat. Singles from Arraez and Kepler led to a Nelson Cruz sacrifice fly to put the Twins up 1-0 after one.

 

The second inning was quieter for Cleveland. After a leadoff double from Cleveland, Pineda retired the next three hitters including a diving stop from Miguel Sano. For Minnesota, Polanco led off with a single and stole second. Garver then drove him home with a double to make it 2-0. The Twins just kept going as Donaldson and Buxton both singled making it 3-0 after two innings.

 

The third was scoreless for both sides, but the fourth went well for Cleveland. After the first two hitters got on base, Tyler Naquin drove them in with a double to make it 3-2. Pineda retired the next three hitters to finish the inning up by one run.

 

Pineda was pulled in the fifth, leaving two on base and two outs for long reliever Homer Bailey (14-2, 2.77 ERA from the bullpen) to successfully get the final out to keep the score at 3-2 Twins. The fifth for the Twins started with a leadoff double from Kepler, a ground ball to move him over, and Cruz smashed one to right field but Reyes made a spectacular leaping catch. Kepler still scored on the deep fly ball making it 4-2 Twins.

 

The sixth inning wasn’t very pretty for the Twins. A bloop single followed by an infield single led to Oscar Mercado doubling to tie the game and then Jose Ramirez singled to give Cleveland a 5-4 lead. Randy Dobnak (12-6, 3.05 ERA) took over and got the final out. Maton came in and struck out the side for Cleveland.

 

Moving on to the seventh, neither team really got anything going and the Twins were down to just six outs remaining. Trevor May came in for the eight and struck out the first two batters but Franmil Reyes crushed a homer to left making the score 6-4 Cleveland. The Twins side of the eighth once again was quiet and ended with Rosario swinging at a pitch two feet above his head.

 

After a scoreless top of the ninth, the Twins came to bat needing two runs to avoid the wild card game. Garver was up first against Minnesota native Brad Hand and he flew out to right field. Hand then hit Donaldson with a pitch and the tying run was at the plate in Byron Buxton. He grounded out and the game was up to Luis Arraez. On a 1-2 count, Arraez struck out swinging and game 163 would give Cleveland the division…

 

The Twins will now be in the wild card game despite having the second best record in baseball. You’ll never guess who they are facing in the wild card game. The YANKEES! That game will be simulated and posted here on Wednesday night.

 

Final score: Indians beat the Twins 6-4

• Win: Aaron Civale
• Loss: Homer Bailey

End of season awards:

• MVP AL/NL: Xander Bogaerts, Freddie Freeman
• Cy Young AL/NL: Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer
• Twins awards: Josh Donaldson (Gold Glove)
• Twins MVP: Max Kepler
• Twins Cy Young: Jon Gray

I decided to recap game 163 instead of the usual format I used for all the other months. If you want to know anything specific about the season, I can get it for you so just ask in the comments. This same format will be used on Wednesday night as I recap the wildcard game between the Twins and Yankees.

 

Any questions about what’s going on in the league so far? Leave a comment and I’ll be sure to answer whether it's about a certain player, team, or anything else! What are your thoughts on this series I am putting together?

 

MORE FROM TWINS DAILY

— Latest Twins coverage from our writers

— Recent Twins discussion in our forums

— Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

 

Click here to view the article

[Darius]

Should’ve hit the reset button on the console before it saved.

[DocBauer]

I like the Twins having the second best record in MLB.

 

I don't like Cleveland having the best record. I also don't buy it. Stupid game system! Lol

 

Go Twins!

[Doctor Gast]

How did Jon Gray do for the Twins?

[Wookiee of the Year]

There's something very Twins-y about winning 102 games, but still going on to face the Yankees in the Wild Card game.

 

Here's hoping the Twins earn another crack at Cleveland!