Emmet Sheehan provided another quality start and the Los Angeles Dodgers backed him with early run support to defeat the Houston Astros, 3-2. The Dodgers improved to 8-8 in one-run games this season and extended their winning streak to three games in the process.
Building off an impressive six no-hit innings from his MLB debut, Sheehan didn’t allow a hit to the Astros until Chas Chas McCormick reached on a one-out infield single in the third. He has good speed but Miguel Rojas also appeared to hesitate before throwing to first base, which made the difference.
Sheehan’s spotless ERA then was lost when he surrendered back-to-back home runs to Mauricio Dubón and Kyle Tucker in the fourth inning. Alex Bregman followed the homers with a walk, but Sheehan responded by retiring the next nine batters faced to finish off his outing.
Sheehan issued two likes, the same total from his MLB debut, but improved from three to four strikeouts.
He exited with the Dodgers clinging to a 3-2 lead, which Michael Grove was first to protect with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Grove’s role since getting recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City is a bit unsettled, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts deemed getting him into Friday’s game a “priority.”
Caleb Ferguson had started to warm up during the eighth inning, but it was Brusdar Graterol who entered in the ninth for the save.
The Dodgers planned to avoid using Evan Phillips in what would have been his fourth game in six days.
Mookie Betts leads Dodgers lineup
After Sheehan retired the side in order in the first inning, Mookie Betts hit the 43rd leadoff home run of his career. Seven of those have come this season, which leads the Majors.
Betts drove in another run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Michael Busch then provided he Dodgers with a decided lead on his RBI double in the fourth inning. The Dodgers had to settle for one run on his extra-base hit when Miguel Rojas was thrown out at home plate.
That was effectively the only low point for the bottom of the Dodgers lineup. James Outman had a three-hit performance and stolen base, and Busch and Rojas both reached safely multiple times as well.
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