In only his second time pitching in relief, 23-year-old Japanese phenom stared down one of the toughest sluggers of the league. Before the Dodgers’ 3–2 win at T-Mobile Park, general manager Brandon Gomes had already put it out there, “That’s the guy that we’ve seen in the past and are really excited about.” The Dodgers have always been this optimistic for their Japanese youngster, even when he was struggling earlier this season. Well, Friday night started as just another bullpen game and almost unraveled as one. Towards the end, the Dodgers didn’t just secure their 91st win of the season. They might have found a bullpen arm they can truly rely on in October.

Roki Sasaki had served up a scorcher of a two-out double to Randy Arozarena that brought up Mariners’ Cal ‘Big Dumper’ Raleigh. Wi

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