Roki Sasaki didn’t blow the roof off, but the Phillies still couldn’t crack the code

If you were hoping for an early April fireworks show in South Philly, last night didn’t deliver. Instead, it gave us a soft thud of a loss, with the Phillies falling 3-1 to the Dodgers and getting a first-hand look at what Roki Sasaki can do — even without dominating.

Let’s start there.

Sasaki, the much-hyped Japanese phenom who Philly wanted badly this offseason, finally made his Citizens Bank Park debut — just not in red pinstripes.

And while he didn’t blow the doors off with strikeouts or filthy pitch sequences, he did enough. The 22-year-old went four-plus innings, gave up just a single run, and left before the Phillies could figure him out. He still hasn’t gotten his first MLB win, but he pitched like someone who’ll have a stack of them by June.

The Phillies got their shot early. Singles from Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber in the first gave Alec Bohm a chance to drive in a run, which he did with a groundout. That would be it for the offense. One run. Total. Against five different Dodgers pitchers.

Bohm gets us on the board pic.twitter.com/lcpaTToPCg

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 5, 2025

Meanwhile, Aaron Nola wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t airtight either. He gave up a two-run shot to Kiké Hernández in the second, followed by a solo blast from Michael Conforto in the sixth. That was the ballgame right there. Nola’s line — 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER — won’t set off alarm bells, but when the bats fall asleep, every homer feels like a dagger.

Go ahead, Kiké! pic.twitter.com/p8BycWSzk8

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 5, 2025

Let it fly, Michael. pic.twitter.com/09bF0IsH3C

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 5, 2025

Still, there was a moment in the fifth where it felt like the Phils might flip the script. After J.T. Realmuto walked and Bryson Stott singled, Brandon Marsh hit one deep enough to move the runner — only for Stott to get doubled off on a laser throw by Teoscar Hernández. Instead of having runners at the corners, you’ve got nothing but a replay of a right fielder flexing on your dugout. Brutal.

By the way, if you’re wondering why this team’s rotation ERA is so sparkling while the loss column keeps ticking up — it’s the long ball. All 13 earned runs allowed by Phillies starters this season have come via the home run. Only homers. It’s maddening.

Also maddening: letting Bryce Harper lead off the ninth with a single, then immediately bouncing into a double play. A three-pitch save from Tanner Scott — who may have broken the sound barrier with how quickly he ended things — closed the door with a thud.

The Phillies fall to 6-2. It’s their first series loss of the year. The good news? They’ve got one more shot on Sunday to salvage a split.

Tyler Glasnow’s on the mound for L.A.

Phillies Starting Lineup:

Rubber match#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/hp1hGlAyrD

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 6, 2025

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