Ohtani saved the game that Sasaki ruined, three-point explosion from behind! Finally, home run joint leader LAD 1411 Arizona

May 10, 2025

Ohtani saved the game that Sasaki ruined, three-point explosion from behind! Finally, home run joint leader LAD 1411 Arizona
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani runs to first base after hitting a mid-wall double in the bottom of the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 10th (Korea time). ImagesYonhap News



Ohtani saved the game that Sasaki ruined, three-point explosion from behind! Finally, home run joint leader LAD 1411 Arizona
LA Dodgers Rocky took the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 10th (Korea time) and was replaced during the 5th inning and entered the dugout to put down his glove. Image Yonhap News
Los Angeles Dodgers Japanese pitcher Loki Sasaki has rarely shown the pitching like 'monster'. This time, he collapsed after being hit with multiple home runs for the first time since his debut.

Sasaki started the away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 10th (Korea time), giving up five hits and four outs in four innings and allowing five runs. The Dodgers failed to keep their early lead and allowed a mid-term turnaround, but won 14-11 with Shohei Ohtani's come-from-behind home run in the last minute.

Ohtani went 3 for 6 with four RBIs and two runs scored, including the winning home run. He marked a season batting average of 0.304 (45 hits in 148 at-bats), 12 homers, 20 RBIs, 43 runs, 26 walks, 10 steals, a on-base percentage of 0.408, a slugging percentage of 0.655, and an OPS of 1.063. Now, there is a number comparable to NL MVP.




Even though the team's lineup scored eight points until the third inning, Sasaki couldn't even fill the fifth inning, let alone win a start.

With this, Sasaki's season record soared to 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA from 3.86 in eight games. Since his Major League debut, he has recorded the most runs and most home runs in one game.

Ohtani saved the game that Sasaki ruined, three-point explosion from behind! Finally, home run joint leader LAD 1411 Arizona
사사키 로키. AFP Yonhap News
Sasaki, who gave up a tie by allowing a superior solo home run to Ketel Marte after one out in the bottom of the first inning with a 1-0 lead, was hit by a two-run shot to right-center by Euhenio Suarez with two outs and a runner on second base, allowing the team to come from behind 1-3.




After balancing 3-3 with Kike Hernandez's solo home run and Shohei Ohtani's timely double in the top of the second inning, the Dodgers' lineup scored five points in the top of the third inning by combining four hits, three walks and an opponent's mistake.

Sasaki, who allowed one hit in the second inning and three outs in the third inning, gave up a left double to Suarez, the leader of the fourth inning, and allowed one run again by groundering Luerdes Gurriel Jr. to first base after one out.

And after walking Marte, the leadoff man in the fifth inning with an 8-4 lead, he was replaced by Anthony Banda. As Banda was hit by a grand slam by Gurriel Jr., Sasaki's runner homered, and the game went back to square one 8-8.




Sasaki joined the Dodgers through posting last winter after taking only 18 appearances with Chiba Lotte Marines last year due to shoulder and abdominal muscle injuries. Prior to the season, he was selected as the No. 1 candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year by leading local media, but when he opened the lid, the time to adapt to the major leagues is getting longer.

Ohtani saved the game that Sasaki ruined, three-point explosion from behind! Finally, home run joint leader LAD 1411 Arizona
Loki Sasaki hit a multi-homer for the first time since his Major League debut. AP Yonhap News
Above all, the fastball speed is not coming out as expected. His fastball speed of 22 out of 61 pitches was up to 97.5 miles and 94.8 miles on average. The average speed was 1.3 miles slower than the season's 96.1 miles. If your fastball is slow, your main weapon, a splitter, can easily get a sign. Of the 17 swings, only three whiffs were thrown. There was no swing or miss on the fastball.

Sasaki threw two fastballs over 100 miles against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 19. However, I have never taken a picture of 100 miles when I returned to the mainland of the United States. The top speed in the U.S. is only 98.3 miles.

There are many walks to say that he has reduced his speed to focus on his control. He allowed 22 walks and 24 strikeouts in 34 ⅓ innings so far. He hit six home runs. He allowed the most walks and home runs among Dodgers pitchers.

Ohtani saved the game that Sasaki ruined, three-point explosion from behind! Finally, home run joint leader LAD 1411 Arizona
Shohei Otani celebrates after hitting a double to the middle of the first inning. AP Yonhap News
The game, which continued to be a slugfest, turned around in the Dodgers' offense in the ninth inning. The Dodgers, which opened with Freddie Freeman's infield hit in the ninth inning, trailing 8-11, tied the game at 11-11, adding three more runs with Andy Pazs' left-handed double, Kike's left-handed double and Max Muncy's right-handed hit, and with Kim Hye-sung going to first base as Muncy's pinch runner, Ohtani's changed pitcher Ryan Thompson with a superior three-run shot, turning the tide to 14-11.

When Thompson's 4th 81.1 mile splitter fell toward his body at the ball count 1B2S, Ohtani kicked it as it was and crossed the right-center fence well. He hit his 12th homer of the season with a shooting angle of 26 degrees, a batting speed of 113 miles, and a flying distance of 426 feet. With this, Ohtani finally moved to a joint lead in both leagues in home runs, along with New York Yankees Aaron Judge, Seattle Mariners Carl Raleigh and Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.