Roki Sasaki returned to form on Friday night, tossing seven scoreless innings at Uniqlo Field as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Angels 1‑0. his fastball repeatedly hit 100 mph, and he finished with an average velocity of 98.3 mph, matching the 98.5 mph he averaged in his previous start. Freddie Freeman’s ninth‑inning walk‑off homer sealed the win, while the Dodgers’ defense made several key plays behind Sasaki.

Triple‑Digit Velocity Marks Sasaki’s Second Consecutive Dominant Start

According to the report, Sasaki’s recent outings have seen him reach triple‑digit velocity on the radar gun twice in a row. Over his last four starts, he has compiled a 2‑0 record with a 1.50 earned‑run average, a stark improvement from earlier in the season. The source notes that his resurgence began with a strong start against the Angels on May 17, when he held them to one run over seven innings, though his fastball sat at a lower 96.6 mph that night.

Defensive Highlights: Rojas and Betts Keep the Score at Zero

The Dodgers’ defense continued to shine, ranking second in the majors in defensive runs saved according to FanGraphs. Behind Sasaki, the defense executed several spectacular plays, none more memorable than a barehanded grab and throw by second baseman Miguel Rojas on a ball deflected off the pitcher’s glove in the third inning. That play was followed by a sharp shortstop Mookie Betts flipping the ball out of his glove to Rojas at second for a force out, preserving the scoreless inning.

Freeman’s Walk‑Off Caps a Narrow Victory While Ohtani Falters

Freeman’s solo home run in the ninth inning was the decisive blow in a 1‑0 contest. the source reports that Shohei Ohtani, who had been heating up and looking like a contender for the batting title, went 0‑for‑4 with two strikeouts, snapping a seven‑game hitting streak and failing to reach base for the first time since May 11.

Dodgers Maintain NL West Lead as Rivals Lose

The win helped the Dodgers maintain their comfortable lead in the National League West, as both the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, the teams closest to them in the standings, lost their games.. The Diamondbacks, now seven and a half games back, fell 14‑1 to the Washington Nationals, while the Padres, eight games out, also suffered a setback. The Dodgers’ three‑game series against the Angels will continue on Saturday with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5‑4, 2.86) scheduled to pitch against Angels right‑hander Jack Kochanowicz (2‑4, 5.23).