Roki Sasaki earns first MLB win, guides Dodgers to win over Braves

ATLANTA – The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to seven games with home runs from Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani, collecting 12 hits to defeat the Braves 10-3 on Saturday night at Truist Park.

Ohtani watched a 79 mph curveball from right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach before launching it 415 feet deep into center field for the go-ahead run. This home run marks Ohtani's eighth of the season and recorded his 11th RBI. He successfully reached base in his first three at-bats, hitting two singles and a home run.

Teoscar Hernandez recorded an RBI single in the third inning, helping to extend his team's lead. He continues to excel at bringing in runs when runners are in scoring position. With this being his 33rd RBI of the season, he now ranks first in the National League and is tied for first in MLB alongside Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

Mookie Betts contributed significantly to the team's 2–1 victory on Friday night as He recorded two hits, including a solo home run—his first since April 14—and scored two runs. On Saturday, he extended his hitting streak to six games with an RBI double to left, scoring Ohtani. It was Betts’ fourth double and drove in his 21 RBI of the season. Betts has driven in a run in each of his last six games.

The welcome-back party for Freeman continued as he drove in an RBI single during the fourth inning, scoring Mookie Betts. Freeman wasn’t finished yet; he also hit a three-run home run off right-hander Scott Blewett, marking his 73rd career home run at Truist Park. With the single, Freeman extended his hitting streak to seven games, during which he has driven in 10 runs. He currently has the third-highest OPS in baseball at 1.084.

After Freeman reached base, Hernandez hit an infield single, enabling Freeman to score because of a throwing error. Hernandez advanced to second base on the error and later scored on Will Smith’s single, concluding a four-run inning.

Right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win in his seventh career start, pitching five innings. He allowed six hits, three runs, and two walks while striking out four batters. Sasaki (1-1, 3.86 ERA) threw 98 pitches, including 15 first-pitch strikes out of the 24 batters he faced. Sasaki gets a 1-2-3 fifth inning as He needed 13 pitches to retire the side.

Sasaki has demonstrated his signature high-velocity fastball, hitting speeds of up to 101 mph, along with his effective splitter. His control has been more consistent than in previous outings, resulting in fewer walks and improved pitch placement. Although the Braves have scored three runs, Sasaki has been successful in preventing further damage.

Sasaki allowed his first run of the game in the second inning when Eli White hit a triple, which scored Ozzie Albies. The 28-year-old Albies then smashed the third consecutive fastball he saw from Sasaki, sending the ball 368 feet over the right field wall. Following Albies, White hit a single, and Nick Allen contributed with an RBI double.

After the Braves scored three runs, the Dodgers' bullpen went to work, with left-hander Anthony Banda and Kirby Yates successfully retiring nine consecutive batters until Marcell Ozuna hit a double off Yates in the seventh inning. Left-hander Alex Vesia then came in and pitched the eighth inning, allowing just one hit on 15 pitches. With a seven-run lead, right-hander Luis Garcia closed out the ninth inning, improving the Dodgers' road record to above .500 at 8-7 for the season.

Hyeseong Kim was called up on Saturday after Tommy Edman was placed on the injured list. Although Kim was not in the starting lineup on Saturday night due to a three-hour rain delay, he was brought into the game in the ninth inning to secure the final three outs with a 10-3 lead. In 115 at-bats in Triple-A, he batted .252 with five home runs, 19 RBIs, and an .798 OPS. His defensive versatility allows him to play second base, shortstop, and center field. In the final part of the inning, Kim played second base.

The Dodgers aim to sweep the series, which would mark their second consecutive series sweep. They will start right-hander Dustin May (1-1, 3.95 ERA) in his sixth appearance of the season. The Braves will counter with right-hander Bryce Elder (1-1, 5.33 ERA), who is also making his sixth start of the season. This matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.