Roki Sasaki threw seven shutout innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 on Friday night.
Sasaki allowed just two hits and walked two on 98 pitches. The right-hander from Japan kept the Angels off the scoreboard and gave the Dodgers a chance to win a close game in the Freeway Series.
Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to end it. The Dodgers stayed in first place in the National League West at 40-23.
Manager Dave Roberts said after the game that Sasaki looked like the pitcher the team expected when they signed him. “This is the guy we saw on video and in Japan,” Roberts said. Sasaki told reporters he is focused on small improvements each time he takes the mound.
The 24-year-old made his mark in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines before joining the Dodgers as an international free agent last offseason. He has steadily built on early struggles and is now showing the command and stuff that made him one of the most talked-about young arms in baseball.
