Steve Webb
Game 5, 3/29/2025: Dodgers 7, Tigers 3
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Okay let’s get this out of the way first. Rookie Roki Sasaki‘s Dodger Stadium debut was… not good. At all. However, the Dodgers’ offense more than made up for the Japanese rookie’s rough outing, scoring thoughout the game to beat the Tigers 7-3, securing a sweep and a 5-0 start to the season.
Sasaki, the highly sought-after import from Japan, just couldn’t find the strike zone all night. He walked four Tigers in just 1.2 innings of work, including walking home a run and letting another score on an infield single. Manager Dave Roberts came in with an early hook, lifting him in favor of Jack Dreyer in the second, who came in and steadied the ship.
The rest of the Dodgers’ pen did likewise. Save for a run surrendered by Luis Garcia in the 7th, the relief corps was lights-out, with Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Anthony Banda, Garcia, Kirby Yates, and Blake Treinen filling in for a less-than-impressive Dodger Stadium debut from Roki. Sasaki’s final line for the night: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K on 61 pitches (only 32 for strikes).
On the offensive side of the ledger, the Dodgers were relentless, scoring in five different innings, coming back from the early 0-2 deficit and pounding the ball all over the yard. Fab Five Freddie got the scoring started with a solo shot in the first. Michael Conforto tied it up with an RBI double in the second and then the home team just took control.
Teoscar Hernandez got game-winning hit with a clutch two-run double in the fifth. Will Smith homered in the sixth, and Tommy Edman did the same in the seventh. And finally, Freddie Freeman, the guy who started it all in the first, finished the scoring with an RBI double in the seventh. Fun to watch this team when it’s clicking.
That does it for the Tigers. The Dodgers get a day off on Sunday, and the Big Bad Braves roll into town for the three-gamer starting on Monday night. The Bravos are reeling, having just gotten swept at PetCo by the Padres. They’ll be sure to be eager to get off the schneid when they throw Grant Holmes (a likely opener) against Tyler Glasnow, who is just now making his 2025 debut in the sixth game of the year.
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