PHILADELPHIA — During Roki Sasaki’s first two starts, the Dodgers had to use their imagination to visualize the pitcher they believe he can be. On a chilly Saturday in Philadelphia, they at least got a glimpse of it. Sasaki retired 12 of 13 batters at one point and pitched into the fifth inning for the first time in his three MLB starts, allowing just one run as the Dodgers beat the Phillies 3-1. “Everything is under a microscope right now, because of all the hype,” Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernandez said of Sasaki. “But if it was any other random name who struggled through their first two starts, nobody would be making a big deal out of it. So I think the kid’s going to be more than all right, and he showed that today. There’s no need to panic over one or two bad outings.” Sasaki wasn’t panicking. But he did admit he went “through the week feeling a little anxious.” “I was searching for something that I could feel confident about,” he said through his interpreter. “So what I learned this time is that it’s really important to have confidence based on some adjustment, some skill.” Sasaki said he got that confidence during his bullpen session two days ago. An adjustment allowing him to better utilize his lower half sparked a “confidence boost,” he said. “But you really have to pitch in games to find out if what you feel in bullpens and during practice actually comes to fruition,” he said. The poor weather and hitter-friendly environment of Citizens Bank Park – not to mention the Phillies’ challenging lineup – didn’t seem to make Saturday a likely spot for Sasaki to take a step forward. Back-to-back singles by Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner in the first inning put the young right-hander in trouble quickly. But he struck out Bryce Harper with a splitter, the first of nine batters in a row Sasaki retired. He walked Harper to start the fourth inning but retired the side after that, making it though four innings on 55 pitches with just one walk after walking 10 in 4⅔ innings over his first two starts. “Once he got through that first inning, to me, I felt like I could see his demeanor change a little bit,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said. “It was almost like he trusted himself and realized he’s good enough to pitch here. The intent that he was throwing with the pitches after that first inning was completely different, in my mind. That was the guy we were waiting to see. He looked really, really good.” Less was more for Sasaki. Fifty-three of those 55 pitches were either his four-seam fastball (which averaged 96.9 mph – still down from its 100-mph promise) or splitter. He threw just two sliders in the four innings. He put that fastball in the strike zone more consistently and as a result got the Phillies to swing at his splitter 10 times, missing five. Over his first two starts as he struggled with his command, Sasaki got the Cubs and Braves to swing at just 10 of 30 splitters and miss only twice. “I think he was just more convicted in his fastball,” said catcher Austin Barnes who got the start Saturday after Will Smith caught Sasaki’s first two games. “He’s got a good fastball. It’s upper-90s. It’s got life on it. And then he gets to that splitter, and the slider is good too. He’s mixing some of those pitches in with the slider. I think he’s got three good weapons. So, when he’s ahead, he’s tough on hitters, especially when they have to respect that split.” When Sasaki walked JT Realmuto and gave up a single to Bryson Stott to start the fifth inning, Sasaki’s day was over. Anthony Banda came in and escaped damage thanks to Teoscar Hernandez. With runners on the corners and one out, Schwarber lined a ball to Hernandez in right field. Stott was running from first base and couldn’t get back in time to beat Hernandez’s throw doubling him off. Sasaki left the game with a 2-1 lead thanks to Hernandez, who hooked a curveball from Phillies starter Aaron Nola into the seats down the left-field line for a two-run home run in the second inning. It was just Hernandez’s third hit of the season – but all three have been home runs. Michael Conforto added a solo home run in the sixth inning, giving a little more cushion to the Dodgers’ bullpen. It wasn’t necessary. Starting with Banda, Dodgers relievers retired 10 in a row and 13 of the final 15 Phillies batters to close out a four-hitter. “He needed it,” Roberts said of Sasaki’s outing. “He probably won’t let on how much he needed it, but to get a major-league start and given how the first couple went, to have some success and leave the game with a lead, I think that was certainly a big positive. Just a building block for him for his next outing.” Related Articles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani resumes throwing program – but slowly Dodgers stifled by Phillies, suffer first loss of season Mookie Betts will join Dodgers teammates for White House visit Subtle change helped Anthony Banda became key cog in Dodgers’ bullpen Alexander: So far, these Dodgers are kings of the rally ...read more read less