The tough stretch of series for the Dodgers continued tonight against the Reds, and they got their ace Hunter Greene to start, but the Dodgers were up to the challenge. Specifically, Andy Pages was, as he smashed two homers to provide a lead for Emmet Sheehan, who twirled seven shutout frames while striking out 10 batters as they cruised to a 7-0 opening game victory.
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On the mound for the Dodgers was Emmet Sheehan, who started well by cruising through the 1st with a pair of strikeouts. In the 2nd he found himself in trouble after a one-out double from old friend Gavin Lux, and then Spencer Steer clobbered a 3-2 pitch to left that looked like a clear double, if not a homer. However, Michael Conforto of all people made an excellent leaping catch before crashing into the wall to save a run, as another flyout followed to end the threat.
Michael Conforto saves a run with a leaping catch crashing into the wall. pic.twitter.com/f2NLNhK8BT
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 26, 2025
Sheehan got more help in the 3rd, as Teoscar Hernandez saved a double to start the inning, and then he struck out the next two batters.
Love our elite defensive outfield. pic.twitter.com/Pwq2Ccesev
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 26, 2025
He ran into his first jam in the 4th, as after getting the first two, Alex Freeland threw wide on a routine play for an error. A walk followed, but he bore down and got a pop foul to end the threat. After he got out of that, he resumed dominance, getting the next six over the 5th and 6th frames.
Since his pitch count was manageable, he came out for the 7th as well. Things started with a single, but he then got a flyout, a strikeout, and this gem from Mookie Betts to end his outing.
Another absolute gem for Mookie in right field. pic.twitter.com/k7DLOVYw8u
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 26, 2025
Sheehan gave up a lot of deep flyballs, but kept things in the park and matched his career-high in strikeouts: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K, 96 Pitches.
Emmet Sheehan matches his career-high with 10 strikeouts over 7 shutout innings. pic.twitter.com/5YpqdpGSaz
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 26, 2025
Going over your career-high in pitches to outduel Greene when the Dodgers needed to put some quality games together? Hell yeah.
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On the other side was their ace Hunter Greene, and he cruised through the first two innings, giving up just a single. But to start the 3rd, Andy Pages got behind in the count 0-2, but worked the count to 3-2, and then yanked a hanging slider on the seventh pitch for his 22nd homer to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
No. 22 for Andy! pic.twitter.com/XLZcJMUEnI
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2025
A Miguel Rojas single followed, then a wild pitch advanced him, and Shohei Ohtani drew a walk. Mookie Betts then checked his swing but made contact and Greene made an outstanding behind-the-back double play that killed the rally.
HUNTER GREENE PLAY OF THE YEAR CONTENDER pic.twitter.com/lrKWeeZ117
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 26, 2025
After a clean 4th, Michael Conforto led the 5th off with a double, and up came Pages again. Well, he again hit a slider, this time on the first pitch, for his 23rd homer to make it 3-0 just like that.
ANDY AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/C9FUkIIPPF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2025
The Dodgers rallied again in the 6th with a Freddie Freeman double and Will Smith then walked to put a pair on and knock Greene out of the game.
That brough in old friend Scott Barlow, who started by walking Teoscar Hernandez to load the bases with nobody out. But he then struck out Freeland and Conforto to put him on the verge, though thankfully Pages put the ball in play and Elly De La Cruz rewarded him by letting the ball go through his wickets for a pair of runs. 5-0.
After back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded and nobody out, Pages puts the ball in play and Elly rewards him with an error for two runs. pic.twitter.com/9ZF7jAIDuq
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 26, 2025
The rally ended there in the 6th, but in the 7th it was Mookie Betts continuing to turn things around against Sam Moll with his 14th homer to make it 6-0.
Mookie doing it all! pic.twitter.com/xZlLgQUcJh
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2025
Now against Connor Phillips in the 8th, they got further insurance, as a Teoscar Hernandez single began things and Conforto doubled with one-down for his second of the day. Pages, hunting his third homer of the game, almost did it with a deep flyball to left, but it fell short and he got just a sac fly to make it 7-0.
That ended the scoring for the offense, but it was obviously more than enough.
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For the pen with light work today, Jack Dreyer got the 8th, giving up just a two-out bloop single that Mookie and Conforto had communication issues on. To finish things off in the 9th was Anthony Banda, who issued a walk, threw a wild pitch, and gave up another walk and wild pitch as he shook off some rust, but that was all.
Not used to pen guys maybe being a bit rusty due to lack of work.
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) August 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Probably not a coincidence the pen started looking better when the starters began going six innings every start. Neato.
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) August 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Gavin Lux also got his 2024 World Series ring.
Good to have you back at Dodger Stadium, Champ. 💙 pic.twitter.com/FXtaWPTeQG
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2025
And BTS member V threw out the first pitch.
Taehyung’s first pitch? Mic Drop. pic.twitter.com/J7VOiRlVRZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2025
IDOL. pic.twitter.com/bUbXkDD7g8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2025
Hyeseong couldn’t be here tonight to meet one of his favorite artists so V FaceTimed him to say hi. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/x72ZDx79Ba
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2025
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Tomorrow’s game will be at the same time on MLB Network at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Clayton Kershaw looking to continue his amazing recent run against Nick Martinez.
