The fiery Chicago Cubs mount comeback against the Los Angeles Dodgers to take series opener. Emmet Sheehan struck out 10.
Walking into UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, the Chicago Cubs were the hottest team in baseball with nine straight wins underneath their belt. Chicago scored 66 runs in that stretch.
Their fire would quickly estinguish when they were met with Los Angeles Dodgers starter, Emmet Sheehan. Or would it?
The Cubs were completely lost against the likes of Sheehan, but pounced on the Dodgers' punctured bullpen to win 6-4 and become the first team to win 10 straight games.
"I thought he did a great job," manager Dave Roberts said. "it's just unfortunate that we couldn't get him a win because he pitched his tail off."
From the jump, Sheehan was in complete control of the strike zone, and the ability to generate whiffs. He had 21 swings and misses, a career high.
Before Friday's outing, the noticeable shift in consistency from his previous five outings were tell-tell signs of Sheehan growing into the starter role.
In the pregame media scrum, Roberts said that "the time is now for [Sheehan] to take the next step forward."
Apr 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. -- © William Liang-Imagn Images. He certaintly did as he delivered 6 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out 10 hitters against the red-hot Cubs.
The Dodgers offense picked up Sheehan early. Will Smith blasted a three-run shot to right field in the Dodgers home half of the third.
With no hesitation, Roberts sent out Sheehan for the seventh, despite the 90-plus pitch count. He was able to record an out, but after Moisés Ballesteros singled, Roberts threw in the towel.
Alex Vesia came in to replace Sheehan on the mound and had been perfect in his appearances thus far this season. In 8 2/3 innings, he had yet to give up a run.
Life comes at you quickly as the Cubs put up a three-spot in the seventh. Though Vesia was able to escape the inning with the one-run lead, the same couldn't be said for Blake Treinen.
Treinen was called to pitch in the eighth. Chicago's Alex Bregman hit a leadoff home run, tying the game at 4-4.
With the Dodgers offense sputtering, Chicago had their finger on the trigger.
A Pete Crow-Armstrong leadoff single welcomed in southpaw Tanner Scott in the ninth. Dansby Swanson followed that up by crushing a two-run shot to give the Cubs their first lead of the ballgame.
Cubs journeyman righty Corbin Martin was able to shut the door in the ninth and help Chicago take the series opener against the Dodgers.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!