ATLANTA -- Dodgers rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki had to wait a while, but the wait was well worth it on Saturday at Truist Park.
Sasaki earned his first MLB win as the Dodgers downed the Braves, 10-3, after a three-hour, six-minute rain delay prior to first pitch.
"I decided to eat a little bit and relax a little bit [during the rain delay],” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton. “Most importantly, I got a lot of the routine that I wanted to finish out of the way, because I’ve heard that when the game will start it’s [going to] happen suddenly. I was ready for that.”
Making his seventh Major League start, Sasaki improved to 1-1 as he allowed three earned runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts over five innings, throwing a career-high 98 pitches (56 strikes).
The 23-year-old’s ERA is 3.86, and he has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start, with the Dodgers winning five of those seven games.
"I thought early on, the first three innings, he was really good,” said manager Dave Roberts. “I thought in the fourth inning he started to waver a little bit with his command, but it was really important for him to get through that fifth inning. I’m happy he regrouped and had a clean fifth inning. He’s starting to be that guy we can count on and be dependable.”
At 23 years and 136 days old, Sasaki was the third-youngest Japanese-born player to debut in MLB after playing in NPB, older than only Masanori Murakami (20 years, 118 days) and Tomo Ohka (23 years, 123 days).
"With Roki, a young pitcher, you’re trying to see how he manages any type of stress -- see his emotions, see his command and how he can navigate through a lineup two-and-a-half times,” Roberts said. “Lastly [see how he can] make pitches when he needs to. He’s done a much better job of that the last four outings.”
Sasaki needed 85 pitches to get through four innings, but Roberts had few reservations about sending him out for the fifth. It paid off, as the phenom posted a three-up, three-down inning on just 13 pitches to qualify for the win.
“I thought about [not sending him back out there],” Roberts said. “Given [that we’re] the middle of 10 [games] in a row, I really wanted him to get his first win. We had a four-run lead and I wanted to give him that opportunity. I don’t always make decisions on pitchers’ wins, but I thought in this situation, I wanted to give him every opportunity.”
Getting through the fifth inning gave the Los Angeles pitching staff one more inning of length as the team is in the midst of a grueling stretch.
“I was just relieved that I was able to do what I was supposed to do as a starting pitcher,” Sasaki said. “[Especially] knowing the circumstances [as] it was getting complicated with the delay getting a little longer [and] knowing the fact that we were going to play [tonight].”
Los Angeles got to Atlanta starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach quickly after the long delay. Schwellenbach was tagged for six earned runs on eight hits and one walk over 3 2/3 innings. Each of the first five batters in the Dodgers’ order had multiple hits and at least one RBI.
“Obviously they had us wait around for a long time, but I’m happy we got it in,” Roberts said. “I give credit to our guys just to stay focused and come out with some intent tonight. Schwellenbach [has] some really good stuff, but we grinded him offensively.”
Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman led the way. Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a home run, two singles and a walk, while Freeman went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer, two singles and four RBIs.
Hyeseong Kim, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Saturday’s game, made his MLB debut in the bottom of the ninth as a defensive replacement at second base.
“I just wanted to get him on the field and get his feet wet a little bit,” Roberts said.