Roki Sasaki turned in another inconsistent start as the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped a second consecutive game to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
Despite Coors Field being a notoriously difficult ballpark to pitch in, the right-hander initially found success against the Rockies. He faced only one batter over the minimum through the first three innings and did not throw more than 11 pitches in any frame.
However, things began to spiral for Sasaki in the fourth as he allowed two singles and hit a batter to put the Rockies on the board. He then gave up a leadoff home run in the fifth inning, which was followed by a double and game-tying single.
Sasaki walked another batter to put two runners on base before exiting for Alex Vesia, who recorded the final out. His final line was 4.2 innings, seven hits, three runs, two walks and two strikeouts on 78 pitches (43 strikes).
“I was kind of satisfied with keeping the pitch count down. But we got a lead, and I couldn’t hold it,” Sasaki said on SportsNet LA through interpreter Kensuke Okudo. “If I’m able to go deeper, it’ll be a little bit better.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently challenged Sasaki to throw at least five innings in his starts, and the 24-year-old knows he has to keep working on his craft if he wants to achieve his goals.
“I’m trying to make adjustments all the time,” Sasaki said. “In the long run, I have to do the things I need to work on.”
After his uneven start against the Rockies, Sasaki now holds a 6.11 ERA, 6.36 FIP and 1.87 WHIP in 17.2 innings across four games this season.
Dave Roberts seeing progress from Roki Sasaki
Sasaki has shown glimpses of his potential at various points this season, and Roberts believes he is continuing to trend in the right direction.
“Yeah, I did,” Roberts said on when asked if he saw improvement from Sasaki. “I thought he was more efficient. I thought he got ground balls when he needed to, got some quick fly balls.
“I really wanted him to get through that fifth inning, but with (TJ) Rumfield up, I thought Alex (Vesia_ was going to give us a better chance to keep the game there. But overall, a better outing.”
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