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Emmet Sheehan dazzles again as Dodgers beat Astros

June 24, 2023

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan prepares to make the second start of his MLB career on Friday night against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan allowed two runs in six innings in a 3-2 win. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan takes the field to make the second start of his MLB career in their game against the Houston Astros on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate during their game against the Houston Astros on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan allowed two runs in six innings in his second career start in a 3-2 win. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France throws to the plate during their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Houston Astros left fielder Corey Julks catches a fly ball hit by the Dodgers’ Miguel Vargas during the first inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan made the second start of his MLB career on Friday night against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan allowed two runs in six innings in a 3-2 win. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Houston Astros’ Chas McCormick, right, is safe at first base as the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman takes a late throw during the second inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ James Outman is greeted by teammates in the dugout after scoring during the second inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman walks back to the dugout after striking out during the second inning of their game against the Houston Astros on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ James Outman steals second base as the Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve takes the throw during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas, left, is out at home as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado applies the tag during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas is out at home as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado applies the tag during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol celebrates after the final out of their 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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LOS ANGELES ― Emmet Sheehan was 17 years old, a high school senior on the other side of the country, when the Dodgers lost Game 7 of the 2017 World Series to the Houston Astros. The boos that echoed around Dodger Stadium when Astros star Jose Altuve stepped into the batter’s box prior to the first pitch Friday night were a remnant of the team’s past.

Sheehan then offered another promising glimpse of the Dodgers’ future.

In his second career start, Sheehan allowed two runs over six innings in the Dodgers’ 3-2 win before an announced crowd of 49,795. They have their first three-game winning streak in more than a month.

According to Stats Perform, Sheehan is the only pitcher in MLB’s modern era to throw at least 12 innings and allow no more than three hits over his first two games.

“I feel like my stuff was a little bit better, getting comfortable with the big league ball,” he said. “I gave us a chance to win, which is what I was trying to do.”

Sheehan (1-0) did not allow a hit in six innings in his MLB debut against the San Francisco Giants last Friday, but he did not factor into the decision in that game, which the Dodgers lost in extra innings.

The Astros did not record a hit against Sheehan until Chas McCormick beat out an infield single in the second inning. In the third inning, Kyle Tucker and Mauricio Dubon hit solo home runs to tie the score 2-2.

Sheehan allowed only those three hits and two runs over six innings. He walked two batters and struck out four.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Michael Busch doubled into the left field corner, scoring James Outman with the go-ahead run. Outman went 3 for 4, stole a base, and scored two of the Dodgers’ three runs.

That run made the difference in the game and allowed Sheehan to pick up his first major league win.

Sheehan’s four-seam fastball touched 98 mph but only generated six swings and misses for the 54 times he threw the pitch. More impressively, it resulted in only three hard-hit balls for the Astros. One of those ended in a double-play groundout. Both home runs were hit off sliders.

“It’s pretty similar to the way it was playing in Double-A,” Sheehan said of his stuff. “Maybe a little less strikeouts, but I feel good with heaters up in the zone, sliders, changeups, and some curveballs off that.”

Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run against Astros starter J.P. France. It was the MLB-leading seventh leadoff home run this season for Betts, who has hit 43 in his career.

Betts drove in Outman with the Dodgers’ second run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the second inning.

Michael Grove pitched two scoreless innings, and Brusdar Graterol pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his fourth save of the season. Both of them were teenagers when the 2017 World Series concluded, too.

“Fans, they usually don’t forget,” said Busch, who was a 19-year-old in college at the time.

Subsequent to winning the 2017 World Series, the Astros were implicated by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred for an illegal sign-stealing scheme during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Their general manager (Jeff Luhnow), manager (A.J. Hinch), and bench coach (Alex Cora) were all disciplined or lost their jobs in the wake of the scandal.

Only one player, former Astro Carlos Beltran, was named in the report. Manfred granted players immunity from discipline in exchange for their cooperation in his investigation. Earlier this week, Manfred told TIME magazine that he had second thoughts about that decision.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about Manfred’s statement prior to Friday’s game.

“Anyone that’s in any type of leadership role, they’re going to have to make decisions,” Roberts said. “Some of them you’re going to wish you had back. That’s just part of life.”

Surrounded by a throng of reporters, Roberts was also asked when the intrigue around the Astros’ cheating scandal will die down in Los Angeles.

Not soon, it appears.

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