The rate at which the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Boston Red Sox has dramatically increased since MLB reverted back to their balanced schedule format, beginning with the 2023 season.
That year the Dodgers had a scheduled trip to Fenway Park, and it represented Mookie Betts’ first time at Fenway Park since he was traded by the Red Sox in 2020. It also amounted to the first time Justin Turner played against his former Dodgers teammates.
The Red Sox visited Dodger Stadium last year, and now are playing another weekend set at MLB’s oldest stadium. The series began with Emmet Sheehan on the mound, not far from where he starred at Boston College.
After pitching five innings and earning the win, Sheehan remarked on how memorable the opportunity was and revealed it had long been a dream of his, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“It was really cool. I had a lot of family and friends in the stands. That was probably the best part. It was awesome. I’ve been dreaming about pitching here for a long time, so it was cool.”
Sheehan’s start was accompanied by Ben Casparius, a Connecticut native, converting his first career save in the historic ballpark:
“It was awesome. I’ve been with Ben since we got drafted, so it was really cool. I think he was an actual Red Sox fan growing up, so it might have been a little cooler for him. It was really cool to see him go out there and do his thing.”
Sheehan labored through the first inning as he threw 32 pitches despite the Red Sox only putting one in play. Shehean walked two batters but struck out Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida after issuing the second free pass.
Sheehan was much more efficient in the second inning, but again struggled with command in the third. To his credit, Sheehan limited the Red Sox to just two runs in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win.
The 25-year-old didn’t get an opportunity to attend many games at Fenway Park while he was growing up due to living more than two hours away. Sheehan instead saw more games in his native New York state.
Fenway Park facts
Fenway Park opened for an exhibition game on April 9, 1912. However, the Red Sox officially played their first game at Fenway on April 20, 1912, a date that is also remembered for when the Titanic sunk.
The stadium includes the Pesky Pole in right field and Fisk Pole in left field. Fenway Park is the only MLB stadium to have two named foul poles.
Out in the right field bleachers is a famed Ted Williams seat (section 42, row 37, seat 21) painted in red. It signifies the longest home run ever hit at Fenway Park. Williams’ blast on June 9, 1946, was officially measured at 502 feet.
Capacity at Fenway park is only 37,775.
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