Sheehan gives Dodgers a chance for N.Y. sweep before bullpen falters

NEW YORK – Right-hander Emmet Sheehan gave the Dodgers a consistent start against the Mets at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon. He left the game with a 3-1 lead, but it was the bullpen that left him with his eighth no-decision of the season as New York won the game, 8-3.

It was the sixth inning when the Mets took the lead. Left-hander Jack Dreyer started the frame by facing three batters, but walking two of them. He was taken out of the game in favor of right-hander Evan Phillips, who allowed a three-run homer to Tyrone Taylor to give New York a 4-3 lead.

Since returning from Tommy John surgery on July 7, Phillips has surrendered five runs in 6 2/3 innings. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that he used Phillips in Sunday’s game based on the trust factor. Phillips has been with the Dodgers for five-plus seasons and produced for Roberts. For example, in 2022, Phillips pitched in 64 games and had a 1.14 ERA for Los Angeles.

“But there is some work, some rust that needs to be dusted off. Right now, I have to give him different looks and get his feet kind of under him and get some traction,” Roberts said.

Dodgers right-hander Will Klein was on the mound when the Mets added to their lead an inning later. Marcus Semien highlighted the scoring with a three-run homer.

For Roberts, there were no excuses as to why the bullpen couldn’t get the job done.

“[The bullpen] has to start getting ahead in the count. The walks are just way too high,” the skipper said. “The bullpen usage has been minimal. So they all should be fresh. For what we are trying to do, we have to be better.”

It can’t be overlooked that Sheehan gave Los Angeles a chance to win. Before the game, Roberts was trying to figure out why Sheehan had been inconsistent prior to Sunday's start. Entering the game, Sheehan had a 5.13 ERA.

“It’s not from preparation, care or work, but certainly what we have done on the starting [rotation] side, I do think he wants to keep that momentum going,” Roberts said. “For me, I expect some really good innings today.”

Roberts saw good innings from Sheehan, who allowed a run in five frames. The way the first inning started, it looked like Sheehan might be taken out of the game before the third out was recorded. The first three hitters – A.J. Ewing, Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette – all reached base, with Lindor highlighting the frame with an RBI single. After Bichette singled, Sheehan settled down and retired 15 of the next 18 hitters he faced.

“I thought Emmet did a nice job. It was a little grindy with the pitch count, but the way he came back in innings three, four and five was fantastic,” Roberts said. “For me, it was going to be hard for him to get through that sixth. We had our bullpen lined up. But as far as Emmet [is concerned], he put us in a position to win.”

Sheehan didn’t like the slow start, but loved the way he finished the game.

“[The first inning is] something I’ve been working on this year, trying to not let it snowball like that,” he said. “The first inning was a little off. I was able to lock it in and keep us there. Obviously, it’s not good to put us in a hole, ever. I tried to keep us there. I felt I did a good job.”

The Sunday loss doesn’t take away the fact that the Dodgers won all three series on their nine-game road trip after the All-Star break. Overall, they went 6-3 and are headed home to Los Angeles to face the Mariners starting Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

“It's a long trip and a lot of moving pieces, variables going on, losing off-days,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “So I thought we played really good baseball all road trip. I am looking forward to going home.”