Roki Sasaki, Dodgers get roughed up without Shohei…
CHICAGO –– With the upstart White Sox unexpectedly in first place, there may be an vitality pulsing through the South Side of Chicago again.
On Friday evening, Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki discovered himself on the unsuitable facet of it.
Surrounded by a raucous crowd at Rate Field, and struggling to discover his lately improved command, Sasaki and the Dodgers got here unglued in a seven-run fifth inning, letting the sport get away from them in an 8-2 loss.
“As a staff, we’ve done a pretty good job of not allowing the huge inning,” supervisor Dave Roberts said. “Last couple times, in the last four or five games, we’ve given up big numbers. Unfortunately, that happens.”
On Friday evening, Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki discovered himself on the unsuitable facet of it. AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
Even before first pitch, the Dodgers’ evening hadn’t began properly.
Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup after struggling a knee inflammation injury on Thursday. The makeshift batting order the staff was left with included Alex Call in the leadoff spot and Santiago Espinal at DH.
Despite that, the Dodgers had an early 2-1 lead –– bouncing back from a solo home run by Andrew Benintendi in the underside of the first with a two-run single from Espinal in the second.
By the time the fifth inning was over, however, every little thing had modified.
Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup after struggling a knee inflammation injury on Thursday. AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
The meltdown began with a stroll, one of three Sasaki would issue in the inning as his previous command issues reared their ugly head. The younger flamethrower wasn’t helped by his protection after that, with Freddie Freeman letting a potential double-play grounder get past him to rating the inning’s first run.
With that, the rating was tied 2-2. The crowd was whipped into an October-like frenzy. And after former Dodgers prospect Miguel Vargas laced an RBI double off the wall, there was no stopping the shift in momentum.
A pair of two-out walks –– the latter with the bases loaded –– chased Sasaki from the sport. Blake Treinen changed him but yielded a two-run single and a two-run triple.
And even if the Dodgers (44-26) had Ohtani’s bat at that level, the ensuing six-run deficit doubtless still would’ve felt too great.
“I remember a few years back, it was empty, and there was a lot of dismay here on the South Side,” Roberts said of the White Sox. “And now there’s a lot of energy, excitement, they’re in first place. It’s a young, kind of a tough, athletic team.”
The meltdown began with a stroll, one of three Sasaki would issue in the inning as his previous command issues reared their ugly head. AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
What it means
After making important strides over the last month, Sasaki still very a lot stays a work in progress.
On Friday, he struggled to command his breaking pitches, couldn’t get forward in counts and in the end couldn’t stop the bleeding once the White Sox (37-31) finally received to him.
His ultimate line: 4 ⅓ innings, seven runs, three walks, 4 strikeouts –– raising his ERA back to 4.76.
“My offspeed pitch wasn’t really good today,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “So the third time through the order, I wasn’t able to get ahead in the count, I fell behind. So I couldn’t get those outs easily.”
Download The California Post App, observe us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up right here!
California Post App: Download right here!
Home supply: Sign up right here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up right here!
Who’s scorching
About the only dependable performer for the Dodgers on Friday was second baseman Miguel Rojas, who finally appeared to be snapping out of a current droop.
Rojas went 2-for-4 at the plate, including a double in the second. He also recovered from a slip on the sting of the infield in the underside of the inning to throw out a runner off steadiness from his knees.
Who’s not
The Dodgers’ situational offense, particularly in the second inning.
Before the White Sox broke it open, the Dodgers had the prospect to do the same. Twice, that they had the bases loaded against left-handed starter Anthony Kay. But outdoors of Espinal’s single, they couldn’t take benefit, with Andy Pages (strikeout) and Freeman (flyout) coming up empty for the ultimate two outs of the inning.
After that, a third-inning single from Rojas could be the only other time the Dodgers received a runner on base.
Up next
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-4, 2.68 ERA) might be on the mound Saturday against right-hander Sean Burke (3-3, 3.88 ERA). Whether or not Ohtani also returns stays to be seen.
“He just got treated [today],” Roberts said. “So talking to the training staff just right now, I’m optimistic. But I want to get him through tonight, get him here, go through some semblance of a workout, getting his body ready, and then we’ll go from there.”
Stay up to date with the latest trending topics! Visit our web site daily for the freshest Sports news and content, rigorously curated to keep you informed.
