Simulating the Dodgers’ 2020 season: Game 8 vs. Giants

This is the sixth installment of an ongoing series, where my dad and I will simulate each game on the Dodgers schedule until real Dodger baseball returns. Catch up on the rest of the series here! Thanks all for the comments and support!

Welcome back! After a close victory against the Giants in the first game of this extended road stretch, it’s time to get back at it and try and clinch our third series victory in a row.

In a pitching rematch of our third game of the season, Jeff Samardzija will take the mound against David Price. The first time out, Price threw a seven-inning gem, allowing two runs with 11 strikeouts against just one walk en route to a win in his Dodger debut. Samardzija, on the other hand, got into trouble early and couldn’t find his way out of it, allowing five earned runs in 5 ¹⁄₃ and earning the loss.

Only one difference in our lineup today — Will Smith gets a scheduled day off, with Austin Barnes filling in for him behind the plate.

It’s time for the game! Watch it here or scroll below to find out what happened. If you want to be notified when we go live with future simulations and chime in with your live feedback and/or input on manager decisions, follow me on Twitch!

The Dodgers loaded up the bases quickly in the first inning. After Max Muncy reached first on an error with one out, Justin Turner singled him to third. Cody Bellinger walked on four pitches to load the bases, and Corey Seager brought Muncy home with a groundout, giving the Dodgers 1-0 lead.

Price gave up early singles in the bottom of the first and second, but worked his way out of the relatively minor jams to maintain the lead. The Dodgers’ offense rewarded his good work — Justin Turner led off the top of the third with a double, and Cody Bellinger belted his fifth home run of the year, bringing the lead to 3-0.

After a scoreless bottom of the third, the Giants managed a rally in the fourth. Wilmer Flores led off the inning with a single, and after a Yasiel Puig flyout, Evan Longoria singled him to second. Buster Posey flew out for the second out of the inning, but Brandon Crawford singled to right, bringing home Flores and cutting the lead to 3-1.

Price ended up going the exact same distance he did in his first start — seven innings, this time giving up just the one run on six hits, with five strikeouts and no walks. Pedro Baez pitched a flawless eighth, and Mookie Betts scored Gavin Lux on an RBI single in the ninth to pad the lead, 4-1.

With Kenley Jansen slightly tired after pitching yesterday, we brought in Blake Treinen to pitch the ninth. He struck out Puig and Longoria before giving up singles to both Posey and Crawford, bringing up the pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski as the potential game-tying run. But Treinen struck him out too, ending the game with a Dodger victory and clinching another series win.

David Price moves 2-0 on the season, while Baez picks up his third hold. It’s Treinen’s first save of the year, and he now has six strikeouts in four innings pitched. And with the win, the Dodgers now have the best record in baseball at 7-1, a half game ahead of the Astros’ 7-2.

Here’s the box score:

Tomorrow’s pitching matchup will see Julio Urias (0-1, 4.50 ERA) go up against Andrew Triggs (0-0, 3.52 ERA). See you then!