MLB 10: The Show Predictions - Game #1: LA Dodgers @ Pirates

With the start of a new season comes the MLB 10: The Show Predictions posts. I will attempt to complete every game on my PSP and post a game prediction. For this year, stupid Sony has eliminated the live roster updates via online postings. I had to make several roster changes myself, and despite my best efforts, the players will not be totally accurate. So, I apologize for that, but, I'll do the best I can do with what I have to work with. Besides, the only stats we should all be concerned about are the Pirates. So without further ado, Opening Day 2010 on MLB 10: The Show.

Lineups:
Dodgers
1. Matt Kemp
2. Rafael Furcal
3. Manny Ramirez
4. Andre Ethier
5. Ronnie Belliard
6. Casey Blake
7. Russell Martin
8. James Loney
9. Chad Billingsley (not the real starting pitcher)

Pirates
1. Akinori Iwamura
2. Andrew McCutchen
3. Garrett Jones
4. Ryan Doumit
5. Andy LaRoche
6. Jeff Clement
7. Lastings Milledge
8. Zach Duke
9. Ronny Cedeno

First Inning: Zach Duke starts off the 2010 campaign with a strong first inning. He was able to get Kemp to fly out to right field for the first out on 4 pitches. Furcal fouled out to the first base side for the second out. Manny struck out swinging to end a quick first inning. 10 pitches are all it took for Duke to retire the first 3 batters he faced.

Moving on to the bottom of the first. Aki leads off with a fly ball to left field on the first pitch. McCutchen is up next and has a great AB. After 8 pitches, McCutchen reaches first via walk. Jones strikes out swinging. Because of a passed ball, McCutchen is able to move all the way to third base. 2 out 1 on with Doumit at the plate. Following a first pitch strike, Doumit is hit, allowing him to go to first. Runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs. Andy LaRoche comes to the plate. With 2 balls and 2 strikes, LaRoche swings and misses. 3 outs, two runners left 0-0 after 1 inning.

Second Inning: Ethier grounds out to Clement on the first pitch. 1 out. Belliard knocks a shot deep into the North Side Notch on the second pitch of the inning. He easily reaches 2nd base. Casey Blake will get a base hit, moving Belliard to 3rd. Runners on the corner with 1 out. Martin strikes out swinging. 2 outs, runners on 1st and 3rd. Finally, Loney grounds out to Clement, ending any scoring threat. 0-0 after 1.5 innings of play.

Clement leads off the second for the Pirates. He flies out to left field on the second pitch. 1 out. Milledge is up next. He ends up striking out swinging after a 5 pitch AB. 2 outs. Duke grounds out to a 4-3 play, ending the inning. 0-0 after 2 innings of play.

Third Inning: The flood gates open in this inning. Billingsley grounded out in a similar fashion to Duke. 4-3 ground out, 1 out. Kemp's second AB ends with a fly out to left field. Furcal singles. Ramirez hits a shot into the North Side Notch, and a misplay by Milledge allows him to reach 3rd base. Furcal comes around to score. 1-0 Dodgers. Ethier singles, Manny scores. 2-0 Dodgers with 2 outs. Belliard singles and Ethier goes to 3rd. 2 on 2 out. Blake flies out to Iwamura for the 3rd out. 2-0 Dodgers after 2.5 innings.

Cedeno leads off the third inning. 3-1 groundout for the first out of the inning. Iwamura grounds into 6-3. 2 outs. McCutchen reaches with a single. Jones strikes out looking. 2-0 Dodgers through 3 innings.

Fourth Inning: Another big inning for the Dodgers. Martin leads off with a single. Loney does the same. Two on, none out, Billingsley grounds out into 1-3. Martin and Loney advance. 1 out with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Kemp knocks a 3 run homer into left field. 5-0 Dodgers with 1 out. Furcal singles. Ramirez flies out to right. Ethier singles and Furcal moves to 2nd. Belliard strikes out swinging for the 3rd out. Dodgers score 3 runs this inning and lead 5-0.

Doumit works the count full and hits a single to lead off the inning. LaRoche singles, Doumit to 2nd. Clement hits into a 6-4-3 double play. Doumit advances to 3rd on the play, 2 outs. Milledge hits a single, scoring Doumit in the process. 5-1 Dodgers. Duke hits a hard liner to third base for the final out of the inning. After 4 innings, Dodgers lead 5-1.

Fifth Inning: Blake flies out to right field on the second pitch of the inning. 1 out. Martin fouls out along the 1st base side. 2 outs. Loney hits into a 4-3 groundout. 3 outs, 5-1 Dodgers.

Cedeno leads off with a 4-3 groundout. Iwamura 5-3 groundout. McCutchen flies out to left. Dodgers still lead 5-1 after 5 innings.

Sixth Inning: Billingsley strikes out on 3 pitches. Kemp 4-3 groundout. Furcal strikes out on 5 pitches. All pitches in this inning were strikes. 5-1 Dodgers.

Jones leads off the 6th inning by fouling out to the catcher right behind home plate. 1 out. Doumit singles. LaRoche reaches on a 4-6 fielder's choice. Doumit out at 2nd, 2 outs. Clement singles, LaRoches to 2nd. Milledge singles, LaRoche scores and Clement to 2nd. 5-2 Dodgers with 2 outs. Duke strikes out to end the inning. After six full innings, Dodgers 5, Pirates 2.

Seventh Inning: Ramirez singles. Ethier reaches first on a fielder's choice. Ramirez out at 2nd. Belliard homers on a 3-1 count. Dodgers lead 7-2. Blake doubles. Martin grounds out 4-3, Blake advances to 3rd. Loney flies out to center field to end the inning. Dodgers lead 7-2 after 6.5 innings.

Cedeno flies out to the short stop. 1 out. Iwamura and McCutchen singles. 2 on 1 out. Hong-Chih Kuo (on the 15 day DL in the real world) comes in to pitch. Jones reaches 1st on a fielding error by Furcal. Bases loaded for the Pirates. Doumit and LaRoche both foul out to the 1st base side to end the inning. 3 left on, no runs scored. Dodgers 7 Pirates 2.

Eighth Inning: DJ Carrasco is now pitching for the Pirates. Doug Mientkewicz (recently released from Dodgers) was a defensive sub at first when Kuo comes in to pitch. This whole no live roster update thing is going to be annoying. Anyhow, he leads off grounding out 4-3. Kemp doubles. Furcal flies out to Iwamura. Ramirez 4-3 ground out. No runs 1 left on Dodgers still lead 7-2.

Clement has a decent AB. Strikes out swinging on the 5th pitch of the inning. 1 out. Milledge 4-3 ground out. 2 down. Bobby Crosby singles to right field on the first pitch he sees, as he bats for Carrasco. Cedeno ends the inning quickly with a 4-3 groundout. After 8 innings, Dodgers lead remains 7-2.

Ninth Inning: Evan Meek comes in to mop-up the ninth inning. Crosby replaces Cedeno at SS. Ethier ledas off for the Dodgers. He lines out to Crosby at short. 1 out. Belliard goes into a deep count with Meek. With a full count, he hits a grounder to Iwamura for a 4-3 ground out. 2 down in the inning. Blake hits into a 4-3 ground out. Pirates come to bat one last time and attempt to close the gap or take the lead.

Iwamura starts off the inning by taking the 4th pitch he sees into left field for a single. McCutchen follows up with a shot back up the middle for a basehit. iwamura moves to second. 2 on and no one out. Rally killer Ryan Doumit strikes out, LaRoche flies out to the second baseman. Clement hits a dribbler back to the mound and is thrown out at first. End of the game.

Dodgers win this one rather easily 7-2.

W - Billingsley 1-0
L - Duke 0-1
S - Kuo 1

Iwamura 2-5
McCutchen 3-4, 1BB
Jones 0-4, 3K
Doumit 1-3, 1 Run, 1HBP
LaRoche 1-4, 1K
Clement 1-4, 1K
Milledge 2-4, 2RBI, 1K
Duke 0-3, 1K
Crosby 1-1
Cedeno 0-4

Next Game: Wednesday April 7, 2010.