LOS ANGELES (AP) – Michael Busch doubled within the go-ahead within the fourth inning, Mookie Betts homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros 3-2 in an acrimonious sport on Friday night time.
The first interleague assembly since 2021 between the defending World Series champion Astros and the Dodgers, who led baseball with 111 wins final season, was full of rancor.
Most of the gamers from Houston’s 2017 championship staff are gone, however that didn’t cease Dodgers followers from expressing their lingering resentment from the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that season, when Houston beat Los Angeles in a seven-game World Series.
“Fans usually don’t forget,” a smiling Busch stated.
The Astros’ lineup was launched to boos, with the loudest derision saved for Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman. The crowd of 49,795 chanted “Cheater! Cheater!” in between heavy booing throughout their at-bats. Altuve and Bregman had been a mixed 0 for six. Bregman walked twice.
Astros supervisor Dusty Baker stated earlier than the sport that he hoped the environment “is more subdued.”
“They say time heals all wounds and somebody has got to heal this one,” stated Baker, who performed on the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series title staff.
The boos shortly modified to cheers when Altuve bounced into an inning-ending double play within the eighth.
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings. He struck out 4 and walked two.
“Big win,” Sheehan stated. “We got to beat these guys. Big series.”
Michael Grove pitched two scoreless innings of reduction and Brusdar Graterol labored a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save.
“We’ve got a reloaded bullpen and they’re performing,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated.
Sheehan made his massive league debut with six hitless innings final week towards San Francisco. The right-hander gave up his first main league hit, an infield single to Chas McCormick within the third, after tossing eight scoreless innings to start his profession.
“I’m just trying to do the same exact things I was doing in the minors,” Sheehan stated. “Leading up to the game this time I felt a lot less nervous.”
After giving up game-tying, back-to-back homers to Mauricio Dubón and Kyle Tucker within the fourth, an unruffled Sheehan walked Bregman after which retired the subsequent three batters to finish the inning.
Dubón’s shot main off the inning was the primary massive league homer given up by Sheehan.
Betts drove within the Dodgers’ first two runs off J.P. France (2-3). Betts hit a 420-foot shot main off the primary for his 18th homer. His sacrifice fly within the second scored James Outman, who went 3 for 3.
Outman singled, stole second and scored on Busch’s RBI double into the left-field nook for a 4-3 lead.
“That was a fun win, a fun game,” Outman stated. “The crowd was in it the whole night.”
France gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out 4 and walked two.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Transferred OF Michael Brantley (shoulder) and RHP José Urquidy (shoulder) to the 60-day injured listing.
Dodgers: 3B Max Muncy (hamstring) continues to be feeling some tightness and received’t be activated as hoped. … Reinstated RHP Phil Bickford (decrease again tightness) from the IL after he missed 14 video games.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
The Dodgers honored the longest operating infield in main league historical past on its fiftieth anniversary.
First baseman Steve Garvey, shortstop Bill Russell and third baseman Ron Cey took their outdated spots on the sector earlier than the sport. Second baseman Davey Lopes didn’t journey from his house in Rhode Island.
Russell faked a throw to Garvey at first earlier than the lads gathered in entrance of the mound. Garvey and Cey had their younger grandsons toss first pitches whereas Russell threw his personal with Freddie Freeman, Miguel Rojas and Muncy behind the plate.
For 8 1/2 years, Garvey, Lopes, Cey and Russell had been a staple on the lineup card starting in June 1973, after they first began collectively. A video was proven highlighting their careers.
Peter O’Malley, the 85-year-old former Dodgers president, made a uncommon public look. During his tenure, the staff appeared in 5 World Series, profitable titles in 1981 and ’88.
He was joined by catcher Steve Yaeger, co-MVP of the ’81 World Series, outfielder Rick Monday (now a staff broadcaster), Baker and pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. Baker was handled higher than his present staff, basking in heat applause after sharing hugs along with his outdated buddies. Reggie Jackson, the 77-year-old Hall of Famer, additionally visited on the sector.
MAKING MOVES
The Astros acquired pitcher Spenser Watkins from Baltimore for $100,000. He was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land.
The Dodgers optioned pitcher Alex Vesia to Triple-A Oklahoma City, two days after the left-hander tossed a scoreless inning with one strikeout towards the Angels. Vesia is 0-4 with a 7.58 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 23 video games with LA this season.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Ronel Blanco (1-0, 4.66 ERA) makes the fourth begin of his profession after starting the season as a reliever. He gave up 5 runs and 7 hits in 5 2/3 innings towards Cincinnati final week.
Dodgers: RHP Bobby Miller (3-1, 2.83) comes off his first main league loss, having given up seven runs and 7 hits towards San Francisco.
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