The Dodgers finally stopped the bleeding on Saturday, snatching an extra-inning thriller against the Arizona Diamondbacks to end a brutal seven-game skid. And who else but Shohei Ohtani delivered the knockout blow, grounding an infield single to bring home Kyle Tucker and push the Dodgers to a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th inning. Talk about clutch! This win was their first since July 30, so you know the urgency was real.
Ohtani’s Bat Carries the Team, His Arm Is Next
Before he sealed the victory with his bat, Ohtani was out in the Chase Field outfield, playing catch. This isn’t just a casual warm-up, folks; this is the first of many crucial steps in his return to two-way duties! Ohtani is clearly insistent on taking his time with his throwing program, which is smart, but the Dodgers are confident he can get back on the mound before the regular season wraps up. Manager Dave Roberts even said earlier in the week, “Any inning, any innings we get from him are bonuses, given he’s a two-way player. So I think whether it’s one inning, two innings, three innings, I’m not too concerned about the timeline.” Imagine Ohtani pitching again before the season is over. That’s a game-changer!
Yamamoto and Sasaki Bring the Heat to Halt the Slide
Stopping a seven-game slide takes more than just one hero. Yoshinobu Yamamoto stepped up huge on Saturday, firing 5 2/3 shutout innings in a no-decision. It was his first scoreless appearance since way back on July 4, and his season ERA is now a remarkable 2.65, tying him for fourth in the National League. Yamamoto told SportsNet LA after the game that the whole team felt the pressure: “We dropped to seven, and I think everybody was feeling the same way. We really wanted to win, and I wanted to get the team off on the right foot.” You can practically feel that desperation.
But wait, there’s more good news from the mound. Roki Sasaki continued to show gradual improvements during Friday’s game against Arizona. He allowed two runs but still powered through six full innings, striking out five and walking only one. Sasaki has been turning heads in the second half, rocking a 2-1 record with a 1.88 ERA in four starts, punching out 26 and walking just seven over 24 innings. Dave Roberts noted Sasaki’s splitter wasn’t as lethal on Friday, but he still praised the young arm for continuing to mature and consistently putting the team in a winning spot. “The split wasn’t as good as it has been, but he did a fine job,” Roberts said. “He really did, and it’s good to see him, even when his best pitch isn’t there, still go out there and finding ways to get through six innings and put us in a good spot to win.”
The Dodgers desperately needed that Saturday win to get back on track. With Ohtani’s arm seemingly on the mend and the pitching staff like Yamamoto and Sasaki stepping up big, you have to wonder if this is the turning point they needed. Keep an eye on when Ohtani makes that official return to the mound, because that’s when things are going to get really interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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