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2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games, May 15-17

By Bill Felber

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 4: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 4, 2019 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Angels 4-0. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 4: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 4, 2019 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Angels 4-0. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

2020 MLB Season: Simulating AL games (May 15-17)

American League Central

Cleveland eked out two wins in a three-game weekend showdown with the Minnesota Twins, climbing with two and one-half games of the division lead.

The Indians hit Randy Dobnak with four second-inning runs Friday and made it stand up for a 5-4 decision. Jordan Luplow drove in two of those runs with a double, and Francisco Lindor doubled home two more. Lindor added a third RBI in the third inning.

The Indians missed a golden opportunity Saturday when Nick Wittgren lost a 5-3 lead on Eddie Rosario’s two-run eighth-inning homer, then Miguel Sano homered off James Hoyt in the 11th for a 7-5 Minnesota win.

But they turned those tables on Sunday, Orlando Mercado’s ninth-inning hit sending Lindor across with the run that erased a 7-6 Minnesota lead. In the 10th, Franmil Reyes’ sacrifice fly got Carlos Santana home with the game-winner.

In Chicago, the Toronto Blue Jays took two of three-weekend games to give them an even split of their four-game series with the White Sox. The Jays banged out five home runs against Gio Gonzalez and Evan Marshall in Friday’s 9-3 win, then capitalized on second baseman Nick Madrigal’s throwing error to break a 3-3 tie in the top of the 11th Saturday.

Sox ace Lucas Giolito was shelled for seven runs inside of four innings Sunday, but DH Edwin Encarnacion’s three home runs rallied the home team to a 12-9 victory and the series split. Encarnacion drove in six runs. Jose Abreu added a three-run home run for the White Sox.

The Kansas City Royals proved helpless against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the weekend’s interleague series in KC. LA swept the series by scores of 9-6, 12-3, and 8-1. Dodger batters shot 10 home runs into the Kauffman Stadium seats.

Related Story. 2020 MLB Season: Simulating NL games, May 8-10. light

                                W-L         Pct          GB

Minnesota          34-13     .723        —

Cleveland            32-16     .667        2.5

Chicago               27-20     .574        7

Kansas City        20-27     .426     14

Detroit                15-32     .319     19

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