Roki Dominates! Bats Explode, Shohei Reaches Base 3 Straight Times Late!

Man oh man, we got 'em! 11-3, baby! 11-3!

Look, when we got punched in the mouth 0-3 in the first, I'll be honest — I was like "oh boy, this is gonna be one of THOSE games." Roki's start was rough. Turang ripped a liner for a double right out of the gate, then an error mixed in, then Frelick lined one too… I was sitting there yelling "hey hey hey Roki, you good buddy?!" all by myself.

But THAT'S when Roki showed who he really is. Pumping fastballs topping out at 100 mph and averaging 92, he just bulled forward and ended up going 7 innings, facing 21 batters, allowing only 4 hits, striking out 4, and not giving up a single homer. Holding it to just those first-inning 3 runs — THAT is what an ace does. I wanted to shout "Roki, can you go one more?!"

And Shohei… he just had to survive the first half

Real talk, the 1st AB ended with a called K on a sweeper after a full count, the 3rd AB he got jammed on a sweeper and popped one up at a 73° launch angle… totally tied up. And the 4th AB, runners on, big chance, and what happens? Three straight cutters from a 3-1 count and he watches strike three. I was screaming at the TV with a beer in hand — "Shoheiiii, come on man, lock in!"

Then what happens? Top of the 4th, Pages rips a liner down the left field line for a double (104.9 mph, 17° launch) to get one back, and then T. Hernández CRUSHES one toward the left field line at a 38° angle for a no-doubt homer! 104.3 mph exit velo and just like that, we're in the lead! That bomb was HUGE. Teo, you the man!

Shohei's pride — three straight times on base late

This is where Shohei made my night. In the 7th, he laced a 105.6 mph liner up the middle for a single. "YES! THERE it is! 105+ mph laser, baby!" — full fist pump from the couch.

In the 8th he drew a 4-pitch walk to load 'em up. Then the lineup kept the chain going — Smith RBI knock, T. Hernández RBI knock, Rojas even laid down a perfect bunt that scored a run. Four-run inning in the 8th alone.

The 9th was the cherry on top. T. Hernández got his 3rd hit of the day with an RBI single, Espinal followed with a double, and then Shohei punched a 99.8 mph liner into right-center for an RBI of his own! Runner from third strolled home easy — that made it 11. Three K's and 2 outs in the first half turning into 3 straight times on base in the second half — man, that's just SO Shohei.

Roki gets the W, Shohei shows his pride, bats explode — full-on rout

T. Hernández with the 3-hit monster game, Pages with the answer-back near-homer double, Roki digging in deep, Shohei coming alive late. Everything you want in a win, all in one package. Let's go again tomorrow, Dodgers!