Reiwa's Great Demon King Roki Sasaki pitched three shutout innings in relief with nine strikeouts, leading the Dodgers to advance.

In the NLDS Game 4, the Dodgers and Phillies fought through extra innings until the 11th inning decided the outcome. With two outs and bases loaded, Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering committed a fatal throwing mistake, handing the reigning champs a theatrical walk-off triumph. The Dodgers narrowly won 2-1, advancing 3-1 in the series to the NLCS.

This marks the Dodgers’ tenth trip to the National League Championship Series since 2008, where they will await the winner of the decisive Game 5 between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers to determine their next opponent.

In this low-scoring duel, the standout was undoubtedly the dominant pitching performance by “Reiwa’s Great Demon King” Roki Sasaki. Coming in as a reliever, he threw three innings using just 21 pitches, retiring the Phillies in order across nine batters without allowing a run and striking out two, firmly securing his role as closer and becoming a key figure in the team’s advancement.

After the game, Roki Sasaki said, “The happiest thing is that I’m healthy now and able to help the team win. I’m grateful to everyone who supported me during rehab, as well as the coaching staff and organization for their backing. My fastball velocity recovered very well in this game, and my splitter was in great shape, allowing me to attack the strike zone more confidently.”

Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts also praised the Japanese pitcher’s performance: “He was incredible and really boosted the entire team’s morale. From being injured at the start of the season to returning to the mound, Sasaki has shown amazing resilience and focus. He will be a crucial force as we aim for the World Series.”

Another Japanese star for the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, exited early in the previous game after pitching 4.2 innings, while Shohei Ohtani went hitless in four at-bats this game, with only one hit in 18 at-bats for the series, batting below .100. However, baseball is ultimately a team sport. Thanks to a resilient pitching staff and key defensive plays, the Dodgers secured this vital win. After the game, the team celebrated with champagne in the clubhouse, drenching Sasaki, the hero of the series, as they savored the joy of advancing to the NLCS.

Since returning at the end of September, Roki Sasaki has thrown two scoreless relief appearances in the regular season. His form has improved further in the playoffs, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings so far, repeatedly throwing fastballs over 100 mph (about 161 km/h), establishing himself as the Dodgers’ most dependable postseason bullpen ace.