After 3 perfect innings in G4, Dodgers running out of superlatives for Sasaki

LOS ANGELES -- Roki Sasaki tracked the path of the ball as it traveled through the evening sky, a high popup that was snagged by third baseman Kiké Hernández for the final out of the top of the ninth. He clapped into his mitt as he walked off the mound, but he didn't take it off.

The bright yellow glove remained on Sasaki's hand while he watched the bottom of the ninth from the dugout. Phillies reliever Matt Strahm countered with a shutdown frame, and then Sasaki was back to work, out for his third inning of relief to preserve a tie ballgame in extras.

There's locked in, and then there's locked in.

Sasaki twirled three perfect frames before the Dodgers walked off the Phillies, 2-1, in a wild 11th inning to advance to their second straight NL Championship Series on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. In a season where Los Angeles' bullpen has spawned innumerous questions, Sasaki has emerged as an answer early in the postseason run.

"You're talking about one of the great all-time appearances out of the 'pen that I can remember," manager Dave Roberts said. "... We're starting to see something really special in him, and that's why he was courted so hard in the offseason. But what he's done now on the biggest of stages, he's just scratching the surface."

Sasaki struck out a pair and generated eight whiffs, including five on his devastating splitter. He topped out at 100.7 mph, averaged 99.5 mph on his fastball and challenged the Phillies in the zone, landing 26 of his 36 pitches for strikes. It was his first time pitching more than one inning in relief, although that's not truly new to him because of his background as a starter.

"I was pitching with a good kind of nervousness," Sasaki said in Japanese. "It wasn’t like I was 'in the zone' or anything like that. It's more that I now have technical elements I can trust, that I know will let me perform well. I think that trust is what helps keep me calm and focused on executing."

The more Sasaki appears in relief -- a role that is still relatively new to him -- the more he resembles the version of himself the Dodgers envisioned when they signed him out of Japan this past offseason.

"There’s not enough I can say about that guy," Hernández said. "We’re talking about two weeks ago, we weren’t even sure if he was gonna be a part of this, and here he is, closing out games, throwing three shutout innings, three up-and-downs, without allowing a runner.

"All the hype that he had coming into the season -- it took a while. But it’s real. Here he is. He’s putting himself on the map."

Sasaki's transformation has been night and day.

The Sasaki who posted a 4.72 ERA through eight starts was working with diminished velocity and struggling with his command. He didn't look overly confident on the mound, and after injuring his throwing shoulder, he was out of sight, out of mind for several months.

The Sasaki who returned as a reliever, hit triple digits with his fastball and induced plenty of swing-and-miss has been a revelation for the Dodgers. After only two regular-season relief outings, he earned a spot in the postseason bullpen. It took only three leverage outings in the playoffs for Roberts to declare that Sasaki was the Dodgers' primary option in save situations. He has yet to allow a run in relief.

This past offseason, the Dodgers signed Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal and brought back Blake Treinen on a two-year, $22 million pact. Between those two and Evan Phillips, they figured to have no shortage of choices to lock down games. But Scott and Treinen struggled greatly this year, and Phillips was lost to Tommy John surgery after just seven appearances.

Instead of having a super bullpen at their disposal, the Dodgers ended the regular season with 27 blown saves -- tied with the Phillies for third most in the National League -- and 33 losses charged to relievers.

Sasaki is as unlikely a closer as the Dodgers could have at this juncture. But he was able to get right at an opportune time, and the team will be the better for it as the postseason run continues through the NLCS.

The bullpen was arguably the biggest unknown for the defending World Series champions. Questions remain around the group, but there is no longer any doubt about who should get the ball with the game on the line.

"Since coming back, coming in from the bullpen, he’s honestly one of the best pitchers I’ve ever seen," Tyler Glasnow said. "His stuff is incredible. He’s locked in around the strike zone. For him to start the season how he did, and then come back now, it’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.”