ANAHEIM -- It took just five pitches for Roki Sasaki to navigate his way through uncharted territory.
In his first 15 big league starts, Sasaki had never recorded an out beyond the sixth inning, let alone taken the mound. Given his first opportunity to do so against the Angels on Sunday afternoon, Sasaki made quick work of the three batters he faced in the seventh.
Jorge Soler grounded out to shortstop on a first-pitch fastball. Yoán Moncada followed suit with a chopper to first base on an 0-2 splitter. And Jo Adell lifted a first-pitch forkball to left field, where Teoscar Hernández caught it to ensure Sasaki would complete seven innings for the first time as a Major Leaguer.
Not only did Sasaki set a career high with eight strikeouts, but he also didn't walk a batter for the first time in a big league start. His seven innings of one-run ball set the tone as the Dodgers rolled to a Freeway Series sweep with a 10-1 win in the finale at Angel Stadium. They've won five straight, tying their season high.
Sasaki recorded the third quality start of his career, and his second of the season. The Angels' offense is no juggernaut, being tied for 27th in batting average (.227) and ranking 26th in runs (186) among all Major League teams.
But Sasaki has not always performed against teams that he matches up well with on paper. An outing like Sunday's is just what the Dodgers needed to see from the young right-hander, especially with instability in the rotation due to injuries to Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.