BOSTON -- With the late offensive surge by Teoscar Hernandez and a solid day on the mound for Emmet Sheehan, Los Angeles was able to secure the series opener win against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park by a final score of 5-2.
Sheehan is no stranger to Boston crowds, as he played his collegiate career at Boston College. He would have a showing on the mound for the hometown crowd, tossing five innings, only allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five.
It looked as though the 25-year-old right-hander was in for a long day at the office as he ran into some traffic early, after issuing two walks in the first. Despite throwing over 32 pitches in the first inning alone, he would settle in for the time being, until the start of the third inning, where he allowed three consecutive hits to begin the frame, and allowed Boston to trail by one run with the score being 3-2.
Sheehan tucked his head in and shut down the Red Sox for the remainder of his outing.
Emmet Sheehan's final line: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 5 Ks, 78 pitches/47 strikes.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 26, 2025
Los Angeles scored the majority of their runs early as they jumped on Red Sox starter Brayan Bello. The Dodgers would score their first three runs in the first three innings, brought to you by a Tommy Edman RBI single in the first, a Hernandez walk with the bases, and an Andy Pages sacrifice fly.
Both offenses would produce crickets for a multitude of innings before the Dodgers would be provided by some much-needed insurance runs.
Freddie Freeman would lead off the Dodgers' top half of the eighth, which would relieve Jorge Alcala of his duties on the mound, and Chris Murphy would come in to face Hernandez. On a 1-0 count, Murphy left a 97 mph sinker right in Hernandez's sweet spot and was able to crush it 415 feet to the deepest part of the yard to give the Dodgers a 5-2 lead.
Teoscar for two! pic.twitter.com/cwhu40vLDQ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2025
Alex Vesia came in the ninth and shut down Boston 1-2-3 to secure the series opening win for Los Angeles.
Starting the series with a W. pic.twitter.com/YCRrruXh6y
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2025
With this win, the Dodgers now hold a 61-43 record and hold a six-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West. Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the Dodgers tomorrow and will look to secure the series win. Boston will do everything in its power to force a rubber match, as the Dodgers have the daunting task of facing Garrett Crochet.