In his Dodgers debut, pitcher Tarik Skubal starts strongly against the Chicago Cubs, retiring batters cleanly through the early innings. Reports from multiple outlets describe Skubal recording six consecutive outs to begin the game, putting him on track for an easy start. The momentum changes in the third inning when Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson takes Skubal deep for what is described as Swanson’s first home run of the season. The homering event comes in the bottom half of the third inning and alters the flow of the matchup after Skubal’s early success. While the initial two innings proceed smoothly, the third inning is where Skubal’s performance swings, with Swanson’s long ball highlighted as the key turning point noted in the game recap. The articles focus on how quickly the game shifts from Skubal’s early control to the impact of Swanson’s timely power.