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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Roki Sasaki made history in his most recent appearance in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sasaki became the first pitcher to throw a perfect eighth, ninth and 10th inning during a series clinching victory. the 23-year-old dominated a stacked Phillies lineup, coming into the game to face MVP candidate Kyle Schwarber, former MVP Bryce Harper and All-Star Alec Bohm. He dispatched all three, and went on to retire the next six batters in a row as well.
The right-hander has taken the postseason by storm, performing well above his expectations and taking a seat at the table with baseball’s best. Sasaki has allowed just one baserunner all postseason, giving him a WHIP of 0.190 since the beginning of the playoffs. This ranks him second across MLB among pitchers with at least five innings pitched, only behind Drew Pomeranz of the Chicago Cubs.
More news: Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow Calls Roki Sasaki ‘One of the Best Pitchers I’ve Ever Seen’
Sasaki returned to the team from injury Sept. 24, and didn’t come back with high expectations. Up until his last two appearances during his month-long rehab stint, Sasaki had struggled with his velocity and was leaking runs. An adjustment in the minors and a change to the bullpen, though, is all the rookie needed to get back on track.
After posting a 4.72 ERA through the first eight starts of his MLB career, Sasaki ended the regular season with two dominant relief appearances, not allowing a run in either. He rode the momentum of those appearances into the playoffs, shutting down a Cincinnati Reds comeback in Game 2 of the Wild Card series, then following that appearance up with his first two MLB saves against the Phillies. He capped off a spectacular series against Philadelphia with his record-setting three-inning performance on Thursday.
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Sasaki has become a key component for the Dodgers this postseason, and will look to continue to aid the team in the NLCS, which will come against either the Cubs or Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
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