Emmet Sheehan holds on to beat the Astros 3-2 to pick up his first win in MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers #80 Emmet Sheenan (RHP) had four strikeouts against the Houston Astros. Photo by Daynesha Lewis/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Emmet Sheehan (1-0) continued to look impressive for the Dodgers after pitching 6.0 innings, gave up three hits, two runs, and four strikeouts, and got his first win in MLB in his second debut by beating the Houston Astros at Dodgers Stadium 3-2.
Last week, after coming up from the Double-A for the Dodgers in his starting debut against the San Francisco Giants, he pitched six scoreless innings without giving up a hit, and three strikeouts had everyone excited about what they saw despite not getting the win.
"I felt great," Sheehan said. "I felt like my stuff was definitely a little bit better, getting comfortable with a big league ball. And yeah, I gave us a chance to win, which is what I was trying to do."
The Astros' starting pitcher J.P. France (2-3) pitched six innings while giving up eight hits, and three runs to the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers #50 Mookie Betts (RF) lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning. Photo by Daynesha Lewis/TGSportstv1.
Mookie Betts got things going at the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off solo home run off of France over the left-center field wall to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers had the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning when Betts hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field, allowing James Outman, who went for 3-4, to come home to make the score 2-0.
Houston Astros #14 Mauricio Dudon hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Photo by Daynesha Lewis/TGSportstv1.
The Astros tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning after Mauricio Dudon hit a solo home run over left field and Kyle Tucker homered over the right field wall.
Despite giving up the two runs, Sheehan kept his composure and continued to pitch well on the mound to keep the Dodgers in the game.
"It's impressive," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "With a guy like Emmet, you learn some information with some adversity, and for him to give up a couple of homers, but for him to not run from it was pretty telling."
The Dodgers would regain the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Michael Busch hit a double down the third base line, and Outman scored.
Michael Grove would take over for Sheehan in the top of the seventh and eighth inning to hold the Astros scoreless, and Brusdar Graterol closed out the ninth inning to pick up his fourth save.