Dodgers’ perfect start ends as Guardians quiet Los Angeles

Sasaki offers an encouraging return

Roki Sasaki’s final spring appearances gave the Dodgers plenty to worry about, but his first major league start since May of last year looked far steadier than the numbers he carried into Opening Week. According to Jacob Macofsky of True Blue LA, Sasaki opened the game by striking out Steven Kwan looking and worked through a scoreless first inning despite giving up a hit to Jose Ramírez.

He continued to look sharp in the second, needing only 13 pitches while facing the minimum and showing much better command than he had in spring training. The first real pressure came in the third, when Austin Hedges doubled to begin the inning and Cleveland soon moved in front. Even so, Sasaki limited the damage and gave Los Angeles a chance to stay within reach.

His outing ended in the fifth after a leadoff single by Angel Martínez, but the overall line was far more promising than the rough tune ups that came before it. Sasaki finished with one run allowed on four hits and two walks, while striking out four over four plus innings, a performance that suggested progress even in defeat.

Dodgers fail to cash in against Parker Messick

The Dodgers had an early chance to answer, but Parker Messick escaped the most dangerous moment of the game for Cleveland. In the third inning, Miguel Rojas led off with a double and Los Angeles quickly put two runners on with nobody out, only for the opportunity to disappear without a run crossing the plate.

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According to the original report by Jacob Macofsky, Messick picked off Rojas at second on a full count to Shohei Ohtani, then got Ohtani to line out before striking out Kyle Tucker. That sequence changed the shape of the night, because Los Angeles never found consistent rhythm against the left hander and remained scoreless deep into the game.

Messick worked six shutout innings, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out five. The Dodgers threatened again later, but José Ramírez helped erase another opening with a strong defensive play that started a 5,4,3 double play. By the time Cleveland turned to its bullpen, the game already felt tilted in the visitors’ favor.

Cleveland creates separation in the late innings

After Sasaki exited, Tanner Scott prevented a bigger problem in the fifth by stranding runners at second and third. That kept the deficit manageable, but the game changed in the seventh when Justin Wrobleski ran into immediate trouble. He loaded the bases with no outs, then walked Rhys Hoskins to force in a run and extend Cleveland’s lead.

Daniel Schneeman followed by driving a two run double into left center, giving the Guardians a four run cushion and putting Los Angeles in a hole it could not fully escape. The Dodgers finally responded in the ninth when Mookie Betts drove in a run with a double, and Freddie Freeman added another on a groundout, but the comeback started too late to change the outcome.

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For most of the night, Cleveland dictated the pace and made the sharper plays in key moments. Los Angeles had enough traffic on the bases to imagine a different result, but the timing never came together, and the offense remained quiet until the game was nearly over.

Tuesday now becomes an early response test

The loss does not change much in the big picture, but it does give the Dodgers their first real reset point of the season. A team that had opened the year unbeaten was reminded how quickly a game can turn when a starting pitcher receives little support and the opponent executes better in high leverage spots.

According to True Blue LA, Los Angeles will try to answer immediately on Tuesday night, when Shohei Ohtani is set to make his first start of the season against Guardians right hander Tanner Bibee. After a flat offensive showing and a missed chance to back Sasaki’s return, the next game already carries a little more edge than it otherwise would have.

Sources: Jacob Macofsky, True Blue LA

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