After rebounded from a rough start post-All Star break with a series win against the Twins, the Dodgers played much better ball to start their road trip against the Red Sox. Still some frustrating moments in the middle of the game, but more typical things than stuff that makes you reflect on why you even follow this dumb sport.
Most importantly, the middle of the Dodgers order produced and the bullpen finished strong for once in a 5-2 victory.
Also, that Walker Buehler guy got his ring.
Walker’s new ring? Yeesh. ? pic.twitter.com/DdEfEnKFd7
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 25, 2025
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After a 10-pitch 1st inning where they went down in order, a one-out double from Andy Pages provided a scoring chance in the 2nd, and Tommy Edman took advantage by blooping a single into left for a 1-0 lead.
¡Tommy abriendo el marcador en Boston! pic.twitter.com/TDx9jCpYK7
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) July 25, 2025
The Dodgers then had starter Brayan Bello on the ropes in the 3rd, as after a great defensive play took away a single to start the inning, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman all singled to load the bases up. Teoscar Hernandez then drew a walk to force a run in, and a flyball from Andy scored another run and left things cornered with the score 3-0.
Following consecutive singles from Shohei, Dills, and Freddie, a walk to Teoscar forces in a run and a Pages sac fly gets another before an … interesting baserunning choice ends the rally. pic.twitter.com/ReBaZhkrAK
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 26, 2025
At that point, a bizarre choice was made, either by the coaches or by the runners. Teoscar took off for second, but it was a part of a double steal and Freddie was out by a mile at home. You usually run that double steal when you’re struggling to generate anything, not when a guy is on the ropes.
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Anyway, after that wasted chance, the Red Sox immediately came back.
Emmet Sheehan labored in the 1st but managed to pitch around a pair of walks and rebounded with a clean 2nd. However, in the 3rd he was greeted by a double (Connor Wong, who had a .372 OPS), a Jarren Duran single to score him, and an Alex Bregman double to score Duran that cut the lead to 3-2 in a hurry.
The ability of the staff during this stretch to immediately give up runs after the Dodgers actually hit, usually involving terrible hitters doing damage, is truly incredible.
Almost miraculously, Sheehan immediately rebounded with three outs in a row to keep the Dodgers in the lead. He carried that momentum into the 4th by striking out the side, and then getting a clean 5th, finishing his outing with nine in a row retired: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 78 Pitches.
Emmet strikes out the side! pic.twitter.com/gc1PVzrq5A
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2025
Taking over for Sheehan was Anthony Banda in the 6th, and he continued to be a solid option for a horrific pen run, giving up just a two-out single and then got two outs in the 7th before Edgardo Henriquez entered to get the final out of the frame.
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On the other end, the Dodgers trying to get insurance was an adventure. They went down quietly in the 4th, then rallied with a one-out walk and single in the 5th to corner the runners, but frustratingly ended up getting nothing out of it. The 6th continued that feeling, as a one-out double and wild pitch gave them another golden chance they squandered.
After nothing in the 7th, Freddie Freeman grounded a single up the middle to start the 8th, and Teoscar Hernandez followed with his first home run in over a month (15th) to make it 5-2.
Teoscar for two! pic.twitter.com/cwhu40vLDQ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2025
A scoreless 9th closed the book on the offense.
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To close the game out, now with some breathing room, Alex Vesia continued to play pen savior with a 1-2-3 8th frame that included bookend strikeouts.
Looking for his first save, Ben Casparius started by hanging a 1-2 sweeper for a double and then looked to be in more trouble after a grounder with eyes was hit to left side, but Tommy Edman came up huge on defense for an out.
Thank you, Tommy. pic.twitter.com/HBsOGdbZ1i
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 26, 2025
A flyout on the next pitch put him on the verge, but he hit the next batter to bring the tying run to the plate, thankfully getting the final out to secure the win.
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The two teams will do it again tomorrow, this time on FOX at 1:15 PM HT/4:15 PM PT/7:15 PM ET. It’ll be Clayton Kershaw taking the bump against Garrett Crochet, which is another hilarious stuff matchup.
