Here is Game 2 of our simulated 2015 vs. 1985 Royals seven-game series

I used an online historical game simulator and pitted the 1985 Royals and the 2015 Royals against each other using the lineups and rotations as they were in their respective World Series. I’ll share the results of the series each day over the course of the next seven days (if necessary). The 2015 Royals won the opener.

Game 2 was determined by a pair of left-handers, although one didn’t start.

Johnny Cueto was the starter for the 2015 Royals, but he didn’t make it through the fourth inning. Lefty Danny Duffy was outstanding in long relief and helped the 2015 team to a 4-3 win and a 2-0 lead in the series.

The 2015 Royals jumped on 1985 starter Charlie Leibrandt in the first inning.

Alcides Escobar opened bottom of the first with a single to center and stole second base. Ben Zobrist popped out to Frank White at second base, but Lorenzo Cain singled and Escobar scored the game’s first run.

Eric Hosmer followed with a single that moved Cain to second. Kendrys Morales’ double to left brought home Cain as Hosmer took third. Mike Moustakas hit a sacrifice fly that scored Hosmer and the 2015 Royals were ahead 3-0.

Willie Wilson opened the fourth inning by drawing a walk from Cueto and he stole second. Brett flied to Cain in center field, but Hal McRae picked up his first hit and RBI of the series as his single to right scored Wilson. White followed with a double that put runners on second and third.

Pat Sheridan yanked a Cueto pitch down the line, but Hosmer made a diving stop and flipped to Cueto for the out as McRae scored.

Ned Yost had seen enough. Danny Duffy came into the game and Steve Balboni greeted him with an RBI single that tied the game 3-3. Jim Sundberg’s single kept the inning alive, but Buddy Biancalana grounded to Escobar at short and the threat was over.

Leibrandt settled down and was helped out by a pair of double plays that the 1985 defense turned. However, a missed double-play chance cost them in the seventh inning. Actually, two missed double plays proved to be the difference in the game.

Alex Rios opened the bottom of the seventh and was hit by a pitch. He was forced at second when Escobar grounded to White, but the 1985 Royals were unable to turn two. Zobrist followed with a single to right-center that allowed Escobar to take third.

Cain grounded to Biancalana resulting in Zobrist being forced at second. However, Cain beat White’s throw to first and avoided a double play that would have ended the inning. Instead, Escobar scored the go-ahead run.

Handed a one-run lead, the 2015 Royals bullpen didn’t flinch. Yost called on Kelvin Herrera in the eighth inning and he needed just 10 pitches to set the 1985 Royals down in order. Wade Davis got through the ninth on nine pitches and struck out Balboni to end the game.

Just like the 2015 World Series, the Royals had a 2-0 lead. And just like the 1985 World Series, the Royals trailed 2-0.

2015 Royals 4, 1985 Royals 3

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 11:30 AM.