Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw sports the Dodger Pride hat in the dugout during their game against the San Francisco Giants 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 the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ryan Walker throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The San Francisco Giants’ Thairo Estrada, right, steals second base as Dodgers second baseman Miguel Vargas takes a late throw during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The San Francisco Giants’ Thairo Estrada, left, steals second base before Dodgers second baseman Miguel Vargas can make a play during the fourth inning 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 the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas celebrates after scoring during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas (11) is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after scoring during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts runs home to score during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, celebrates with teammate James Outman after scoring during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith, center, greets J.D. Martinez after they both scored on James Outman’s single and an error during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates in the dugout after he scored during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez celebrates in the dugout after he scored during the fifth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan looks on during their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts makes a catch on a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr. during the sixth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan reacts after right fielder Mookie Betts made a diving catch on a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson to end the top of the sixth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan reacts after right fielder Mookie Betts made a diving catch on a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson to end the top of the sixth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan reacts after right fielder Mookie Betts made a diving catch on a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson to end the top of the sixth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings in his major league debut. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan, left, is congratulated by catcher Will Smith after the top of the sixth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six no-hit innings before being removed in his major-league debut. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan, center, congratulates right fielder Mookie Betts after Betts made a diving catch on a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson to end the top of the sixth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan pitched six hitless innings before being taken out of the game. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The San Francisco Giants’ Thairo Estrada throws to first base for the third out during the sixth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores, right, rounds second base after hitting a two-run home run as Dodgers second baseman Miguel Vargas watches during the seventh inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores, right, celebrates with Thairo Estrada after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey, right, is congratulated by teammate Joc Pederson after scoring on a single by Brandon Crawford during the 11th inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas lays on the ground after missing a ball hit for an RBI single by the San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson during the eighth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers catcher Will Smith takes a late throw as the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford scores during the eighth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford, left, scores on a single by Joc Pederson as Dodgers catcher Will Smith, right, misses the throw during the eighth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson scores during the eighth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson celebrates after scoring during the eighth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas throws to first base to complete a double play after forcing out the San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos at second during the eighth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas throws to first base for a double play after forcing out the San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos during the ninth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts connects for a single during the ninth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas slides home to score during the ninth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, left, is tagged out by San Francisco Giants third baseman Casey Schmitt while trying to steal third base during the ninth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is caught trying to steal third base by San Francisco Giants third baseman Casey Schmitt during the ninth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers throws to the plate during the 10th inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford heads to first after hitting an RBI single during the 11th inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Michael Busch, left, is tagged out by San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Jakob Junis as catcher Patrick Bailey looks on during the 11th inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Michael Busch, center is tagged out by San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Jakob Junis, left, after Busch was caught between third and home as catcher Patrick Bailey watches during the 11th inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Jakob Junis throws to the plate during the 11th inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey, left, and relief pitcher Jakob Junis celebrate after their 7-5 victory over the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Jakob Junis, left, and shortstop Brandon Crawford celebrate after defeating the Dodgers, 7-5, on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers grounds crew personnel prep the pitching mound for LGBTQ+ Pride Night prior to a game between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is interviewed in the dugout before their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fans watch from the top deck as an LGBTQ+ flag flies in the background prior to a game between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Detail of the Dodgers’ pride hats before their game against the San Francisco Giants on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES ― Ross Stripling wasn’t in the ballpark for Friday night’s game between the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. He was tuning in from Arizona, where he is on the Giants’ injured list rehabbing a back injury, noting the coincidences.
Reliever Chris Hatcher then allowed a two-run home run, ending the Dodgers’ no-hit bid and tying the game, which the Dodgers lost in 10 innings.
The main difference between Stripling’s performance in his debut and that of Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan on Friday night? Friday’s game was at Dodger Stadium, where the announced crowd of 49,074 was cheering for Sheehan.
Sheehan threw six innings without allowing a hit in his major league debut, but the Dodgers lost the opener of a three-game series with the Giants, 7-5, in 11 innings.
“What Emmet did tonight, I thought, was the highlight of the night,” Roberts said. “Give the Giants credit: they fought back. This one … it never feels good to lose.”
With Sheehan out of the game, San Francisco scored two runs in the seventh inning and three in the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. The Dodgers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, only to cough up a pair of runs with Alex Vesia (0-4) on the mound in the 11th.
They had a chance to score in the bottom of the 11th, but Michael Busch was held up by third base coach Dino Ebel at the last second trying to score on an overthrow on the infield. Mookie Betts, the trailing runner, didn’t see Busch stop and got caught in a rundown. Busch was ultimately tagged out as Betts took third. The next batter, Freddie Freeman, struck out to end the game.
“I just thought wrong, saw the play wrong,” Betts said. “As it was unfolding – just bad timing. We haven’t been playing great. Well, we’ve been playing all right, but things just haven’t really fallen our way. Just another one of those things that kicked us while we’re down. I just have to be smarter in that situation.”
The Dodgers’ bullpen tossed six scoreless innings in a victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday but regressed to the mean Friday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over five innings. Dodger starters are 25-17 with a 4.24 ERA this season, while their relievers are 14-14 with a 4.79 ERA.
The ending obscured another promising debut from a Dodger rookie.
Sheehan threw 89 pitches, 51 for strikes. His four-seam fastball touched 98 mph, and his two secondary pitches – a changeup and slider – did not yield any hard contact. He issued two walks, struck out three, and got a whopping 13 outs in the air.
“I was just trying to make it the same game as it is in Double-A – which it is,” Sheehan said. “I was definitely a little overwhelmed but to get it out of the way is a huge weight off my shoulders.”
In the process, Sheehan became the second pitcher since Stripling to complete at least six innings in his major league debut without allowing a hit. On occasion, he got help from his defense.
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas made a sliding backhand stop on a hard ground ball headed to left field in the third inning, then threw to second base for a forceout to preserve the no-hitter. Freeman leaped into the net protecting the first row of seats behind first base to catch a foul pop-up.
Sheehan’s final pitch yielded a screaming line drive headed toward the right-field line off the bat of Joc Pederson, but Betts dove headlong to make the catch, bringing the crowd to its feet.
Brusdar Graterol took over to begin the seventh inning and allowed a single to the first batter he faced, Thairo Estrada. Wilmer Flores followed with a home run to bring the Giants within 4-2. In the span of minutes, the drama of the no-hitter vanished.
Victor Gonzalez relieved Graterol in the eighth inning and allowed a walk and two singles while recording one out. The latter, a single by Pederson, snuck under the glove of Rojas and into left field, scoring two runs.
Tayler Scott relieved Gonzalez and did his job, retiring Estrada on a fly ball to center field. But Austin Slater had no trouble tagging up and scoring from third base, tying the score at 4-all.
The Dodgers intentionally walked Michael Conforto to load the bases for Casey Schmitt, who also poked a ground ball toward Rojas’ backhand. The throw to first base was late, Schmitt was safe, and Pederson scored the go-ahead run from third.
Leading 5-4, the Giants called on hard-throwing closer Camilo Doval to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Doval allowed back-to-back singles by Rojas and Betts to put runners on first and third. Doval then started Freeman off with a 101-mph fastball. Freeman whipped the ball into shallow right field, scoring Rojas from third base.
Tied 5-5, Betts made the second out of the inning at third base on the front end of a double-steal, before Doval struck out J.D. Martinez to end the inning.
The Dodgers’ position players took a hit. David Peralta left the game with a left hamstring strain. Chris Taylor left the game with right knee pain and will get an MRI on Saturday. Neither will play Saturday, Roberts said.
Roberts also said the Dodgers will recall a relief pitcher prior to Saturday’s game to give their bullpen a breather.
“Special moment he’ll remember forever… He delivered, it was fun to watch.” Dave Roberts speaks on Emmet Sheehan’s big MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/xWeqiEerD1
“I was wrong.” Mookie Betts takes full responsibility for his bad call to steal late in the game which cost the #Dodgers the game. pic.twitter.com/6iPh6vW2o3
