- Dodgers extend win streak to 7 with 5th straight victory over Braves
- Rookie Roki Sasaki claims 1st MLB win despite Ozzie Albies HR
- 3-hour rain delay sets latest start time in Truist Park history
The Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a masterclass in offensive efficiency Saturday night, amassing 12 hits against the Atlanta Braves in a decisive 10-3 victory. Freddie Freeman’s three-run homer capped a four-RBI performance, while Shohei Ohtani’s seventh-inning blast demonstrated why he remains baseball’s most dangerous dual threat. The win marked Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki’s long-awaited first MLB triumph, cementing the Dodgers’ status as World Series favorites.
Sasaki’s five-inning outing showcased both promise and growing pains. The 23-year-old right-hander surrendered six hits but maintained composure after giving up a second-inning homer to Ozzie Albies. His fastball command improved dramatically after the third,manager Dave Roberts noted postgame. The Dodgers’ bullpen preserved Sasaki’s lead with four scoreless innings, holding Atlanta to just two hits after the fifth.
The game’s three-hour weather delay created unprecedented scheduling challenges. Players took the field at 10:21 PM local time – the latest first pitch in Truist Park’s nine-year history. Analysts speculate the unusual start time impacted Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach, who surrendered eight hits before being pulled in the fourth inning. Los Angeles capitalized with four runs in that frame, including Austin Barnes’ RBI double that caromed off the left-field wall.
Ohtani’s continued pitching progression adds intrigue to the Dodgers’ championship calculus. The two-way star threw 35 bullpen pitches pre-game, reaching 97 MPH on the radar gun. While his slider remains shelved post-surgery, team insiders confirm Ohtani could begin live batting practice by mid-July. This development aligns with MLB’s growing trend of international pitchers impacting pennant races – Japanese hurlers now account for 18% of AL/NL starting rotations.
The Dodgers’ dominance over Atlanta reveals strategic advantages in interleague play. Their 5-0 record against the Braves this season contrasts sharply with Atlanta’s .720 win percentage against other NL East teams. Regional analysts attribute this disparity to Los Angeles’ aggressive base-running and defensive shifts tailored to Truist Park’s unique dimensions. Saturday’s victory marked the first time since 2017 that any team scored double-digit runs at the Braves’ home stadium.
As the series concludes Sunday night, all eyes turn to pitching prospect Dustin May. The Dodgers’ right-hander faces mounting pressure to maintain rotation stability amid Walker Buehler’s rehab setback. With their seventh straight win, Los Angeles now holds baseball’s second-best run differential (+84), trailing only the Philadelphia Phillies in NL postseason projections.
