TOKYO — Roki Sasaki’s Main League Baseball debut was equal elements electrifying and erratic, with the Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander displaying a robust arm but additionally a wild streak that restricted his outing to a few innings on Wednesday evening on the Tokyo Dome.
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The Japanese phenom — who was pitching in a pressure-packed debut in entrance of his dwelling nation — gave up only one run and one hit whereas putting out three, but additionally walked 5 batters, together with one free cross that pressured in a run.
He threw 56 pitches, together with 31 balls and 25 strikes.
The 23-year-old’s first six pitches of his profession blazed towards the plate at 99.5, 99.5, 100, 100.5, 99.4 and 98.9 mph and he retired the primary three Chicago Cubs batters so as, together with countryman Seiya Suzuki on a swinging strikeout.
Sasaki was clearly amped for the primary inning and his grunts echoed all through the Tokyo Dome as he fired his fastball. The lanky 6-foot-2 pitcher signed a minor league contract with a $6.5 million signing bonus again in January, turning into the thirteenth Japanese participant to affix the franchise.
Sasaki bumped into bother within the second inning, strolling Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson earlier than he was aided by some success. With one out, Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tough liner that was snagged by shortstop Miguel Rojas, who was then capable of step on second base to double up Busch for the ultimate two outs.
Within the third, Jon Berti reached on an infield single and Sasaki walked Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker, which pressured in a run and lower the Dodgers benefit to 3-1. However the rookie recovered, putting out Busch and Matt Shaw to finish the menace.
After Sasaki’s preliminary burst of triple-digit velocity, he settled into the 97-99 mph vary, and his famed splitter was often spectacular, however typically out of the strike zone.
Sasaki left the sport with the Dodgers holding a 5-1 lead.
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