PHILADELPHIA — Roki Sasaki was impressive on the mound as he allowed just one run and pitched into the fifth inning to help propel the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, securing an impressive 9-1 start to the season.
In search of his first major league win during his third outing, Sasaki surrendered singles to Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber in the first inning. This set up Alex Bohm’s groundout, which drove in the Phillies’ only run of the game. The young pitcher left the match in the fifth inning after a walk to J.T. Realmuto and a single allowed to Bryson Stott, reaching a total of 68 pitches.
Anthony Banda entered the game and got Brandon Marsh to fly out, followed by a dynamic play in which Schwarber hit into a double play. Right fielder Teoscar Hernández made an astute throw to double up Stott at first base. Banda, alongside Ben Casparius, Alex Vesia, and Tanner Scott, worked together to deliver scoreless relief, allowing just one hit.
Tanner Scott recorded his third save of the season, making him one of five pitchers ever to earn a three-pitch save against three batters since pitch tracking began in 1988. Scott allowed a leadoff single to Bryce Harper but responded swiftly, inducing a 6-4-3 double play off Bohm and then retired Max Kepler with a flyout.
Offensively, Kiké Hernández put the Dodgers ahead with a two-run homer in the second inning off Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola. Later, Michael Conforto added a solo home run in the sixth. Nola finished his outing allowing seven hits, but the Phillies dropped to a 6-2 record for the season.
In a critical moment in the game, Stott was doubled off at first before Realmuto could make it home for a potential tying run.
Another notable statistic from the game is that Phillies’ starting pitchers have conceded runs exclusively via home runs this season, with 13 runs allowed from eight long balls.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers will send RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound for Sunday’s series finale, facing off against Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (0-0, 1.69 ERA).