Relievers Roki Sasaki, Clayton Kershaw help as Dodgers reduce magic number to 1

"The Dodgers might've finally found an answer to their long-maddening bullpen problems. Just use some starters. In a 5-4 extra-innings win over the Arizona Diamondbacks that lowered their magic number to clinch the National League West to one, the Dodgers again squandered a late-game lead when their traditional relievers faltered. They still didn't make winning look as simple as it should have."

"Activated from the injured list shortly before the game, and making his first appearance in the majors since suffering a shoulder injury in early May, Sasaki flashed promising signs with a scoreless frame in the bottom of the seventh, protecting a 3-1 lead the team had been staked to by Blake Snell's six-inning, one-run start, and an early offensive outburst that included a two-run homer from Andy Pages. Sasaki's fastball averaged 98-99 mph, was located with precision on the corners of the strike zone, and even induced a couple of swing-and-misses, things he never did consistently while posting a 4.72 ERA in eight starts at the beginning of the season."

"He paired it with a trademark splitter that was also commanded with more precision than at any point in his initial MLB stint. Sasaki needed only 13 pitches to retire the side in order, punctuating his outing with a pair of strikeouts on 99-mph four-seamers. As he walked back to the dugout, he glanced toward his teammates with a stoic glare. Just about all of them, including Shohei Ohtani, applauded in approval."

The Dodgers won 5-4 in 11 innings, lowering their National League West magic number to one. Blake Snell delivered six innings and one run, and Andy Pages hit a two-run home run in an early offensive outburst. Roki Sasaki was activated from the injured list and made his first major-league appearance since a shoulder injury in May, throwing a 98-99 mph fastball and a well-commanded splitter in a scoreless seventh. Sasaki retired the side on 13 pitches with two strikeouts while teammates, including Shohei Ohtani, applauded. Clayton Kershaw also provided scoreless relief. The Dodgers briefly saw their traditional bullpen falter and experienced trouble in the eighth before Tommy Edman provided the decisive go-ahead in the 11th.

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