Dodgers Interview: Roki Talks about his Second Save of the Series
PHILADELPHIA — Roki Sasaki earned his second October save the hard way, staring down Trea Turner in a one-run game with runners on the corners and getting the All-Star shortstop to roll a grounder that sealed the Dodgers’ 4–3 win in Philadelphia. The crowd was howling. The moment was huge. Sasaki’s heartbeat stayed level.
Asked about the bullpen routine and the trickier warmup windows that come with relief work, Sasaki said he felt more in rhythm this time. “I had more time than my last outing, so I was able to prepare,” he said. “When I got on the mound, I was ready to throw strikes. That was good.”
The Dodgers now hold a 2–0 edge and the clubhouse vibe reflects it. Sasaki kept the focus simple and squarely on his lane. “Our starters are giving us good outings every time,” he said. “What I can do is finish the game in that condition or connect it to the next pitcher. I just think about preparing well and going to the mound.”
That narrow ninth was a pressure cooker, but he treated it like any other assignment: get strike one, stay on plan, trust the defense. The result was the final out against Turner and a pocketed save in one of the loudest parks in baseball.
Sasaki also sounded ready for more if the schedule demands it. Consecutive days? He didn’t blink. “Even on off days I’ve been throwing with higher intensity and testing the feel,” he said. “I have the sense that I can go.”
The Dodgers won this one with a four-run burst in the seventh, then white-knuckled it to the finish. Sasaki’s calm helped land the plane. “I was prepared to throw strikes,” he said, repeating the core of his approach. “That’s all I was thinking about.”
Preparation. First-pitch conviction. Trust in the guys behind him. It added up to a quiet, clinical end to a noisy night. And it sent Los Angeles home with a two-game cushion and one more weapon looking very comfortable in the fire.
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