It wasn’t just a one-time thing.
Roki Sasaki once again hit 160 mph on Friday night, similar to his last performance.
In the game at Uniqlo Field, the Dodgers managed a close 1-0 victory over the Angels, with Sasaki throwing seven scoreless innings and averaging 98.3 mph on his fastball.
Sasaki maintained the impressive form he showed during his last start, where he averaged 98.5 mph with his fastball.
It seems he’s really found his stride again with that pitch.
Thanks to Sasaki’s ten strikeouts, the Dodgers clinched the win with a walk-off home run by Freddie Freeman, their third hit of the game.
Sasaki’s recent performances hint at a positive trajectory. He holds a 2-0 record and a 1.50 ERA over his last four outings.
His resurgence notably began with a win on May 17 against the Angels in Anaheim, where he allowed just one run in seven innings.
However, Friday’s game showcased a completely different level of pitching. Earlier this season at Angel Stadium, his fastball averaged a mere 96.6 mph.
What it means
The Dodgers got some extra good news since both teams directly behind them in the National League West standings took losses. The Diamondbacks, trailing by 7½ games, lost 14-1 to the Nationals, while the Padres, eight games back, fell 5-0 to the Mets.
Who is hot
According to Fangraphs, the Dodgers ranked second in the majors for defensive runs allowed before the game, and their defense stood out, second only to Sasaki’s performance on the mound.
A highlight came from second baseman Miguel Rojas in the third inning when he bare-handed a ball that missed the pitcher’s glove and threw it across his body.
Another memorable moment was shortstop Mookie Betts flipping the ball off his glove for a forceout at second base, ending the inning with style.
Who is not?
Just as Shohei Ohtani appeared to be a contender for the batting title, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, ending his hit streak at seven games. This was also the first time since May 11 that he didn’t reach base.
To the next
The Dodgers will continue their three-game series against the Angels on Saturday, featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-4, 2.86) facing off against Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowitz (2-4, 5.23).
