DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Sports

Sasaki Throws Fastest Pitch in U.S. but Suffers Worst Loss, Vows Improvement

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki threw his fastest pitch in the U.S. but suffered his worst career loss against the White Sox.
  • Sasaki allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings, acknowledging control issues with his breaking balls as a key factor.
  • He vowed to improve his control and pitch quality, stating that simply trying to manage opponents without fully utilizing his strengths is unsustainable.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki experienced a frustrating outing against the White Sox, despite reaching a career-high velocity of 100.7 mph. The Japanese fireballer surrendered seven runs in just 4.1 innings, marking his most difficult loss in the U.S.

Even if my breaking balls aren't working well today, I have to find a way to suppress the opponent.

— Roki SasakiDiscussing his need to improve control and pitch quality.

Sasaki acknowledged that while his velocity was a positive sign, his overall control, particularly of his breaking pitches, was insufficient. He recognized that against a hot team like the White Sox, failing to throw pitches in the strike zone comes at a steep price.

"Even if my breaking balls aren't working well today, I have to find a way to suppress the opponent," Sasaki stated. He emphasized the need for accelerated training and improved pitch quality. "If I just try to manage opponents by force, there's no future in that. I have to fully utilize my strengths and then continue to improve."

If I just try to manage opponents by force, there's no future in that. I have to fully utilize my strengths and then continue to improve.

— Roki SasakiExplaining his philosophy on development and future performance.

Reflecting on a particularly rough fifth inning, Sasaki admitted that while he only gave up one home run in the first four innings, the collapse in the fifth requires introspection. "The final result is what it is, and there's not much more I can say," he said. "I can only hope to pitch consistently throughout the season."

The final result is what it is, and there's not much more I can say.

— Roki SasakiReflecting on his performance after the game.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog