PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Just in time to make a run at a second consecutive World Series title, the Los Angeles Dodgers might have found their closer.

The Dodgers already knew what they had in Japanese ace Shohei Ohtani. Los Angeles turned to rookie countryman Roki Sasaki to fill the role of shutdown reliever.

A little slice of playoff history was a perfect way to win Game 1 of the NL Division Series.

Ohtani struck out nine over six innings Saturday night and Sasaki worked a scoreless ninth in a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, making them the first Japanese-born starter and reliever to earn a win and a save in the same postseason game.

The 23-year-old Sasaki pitched in only 10 games this season — eight starts — because of a right shoulder impingement that cost him a chunk of

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