Roki Sasaki keeps impressing as Dodgers defeat Mariners 6-2

The Dodgers are now on a winning streak at home, as they defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-2 at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.

Roki Sasaki managed to avoid trouble after allowing a one-out baserunner by completing a scoreless first inning on 20 pitches. Bryan Woo was one strike away from completing a scoreless first inning on 21 pitches, but Mookie Betts delivered a two-strike, two-run double to give the Dodgers a third consecutive first inning lead over Seattle.

The Dodgers would struggle to get anything going against Woo over the next two innings, but a one-out walk to Kyle Tucker ignited a rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. Teoscar Hernández reached on an infield single, and Dalton Rushing added his biggest swing of the series with a three-run home run into the Seattle bullpen, giving the Dodgers their largest lead against the Mariners at five runs.

The Mariners were able to get to Sasaki in the top of the sixth inning, as Cole Young led off with a triple before Randy Arozarena drove him in on a double. After a four-pitch walk to Dominic Canzone, Julio Rodriguez lined out to Max Muncy on the first pitch he saw for a crucial first out. Josh Naylor singled to left field to load the bases and bring up the potential tying run in the form of Cal Raleigh.

Sasaki allowed a five-pitch walk to Raleigh to bring home Arozarena to cut his night after 5 1/3 innings. Although he allowed the two runs in the sixth inning, the 24-year-old right-hander has continued to show improvements on the mound, as his seven strikeouts against Seattle were the most he had in a home start since his 10-strikeout gem against the Angels on June 5. His season ERA now sits at 4.64, as he has allowed just three earned runs over his last three starts. Jack Dreyer managed to strike out pinch-hitter Rob Refsnyder before getting a groundout of Weston Wilson to get out of the bases-loaded jam unscathed.

The Dodgers added some insurance against reliever Alex Hoppe in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Teoscar Hernández socked his first home run since July 3 against his old team to bring the lead back to four runs.

After two quick outs from Dreyer in the top of the seventh inning, Edgardo Henriquez let Seattle rattle with two consecutive baserunners. Henriquez won an eight pitch battle against Julio Rodríguez, getting him to ground out to leave both men on.

Tanner Scott almost let things slip away, as he allowed two walks in the top of the eighth inning, but he managed to get rookie Colt Emerson to fly out and maintain the Dodgers’ four-run lead. The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Edwin Díaz secured his second consecutive save since returning from the injured list.

Andy Pages had another multi-hit game against Seattle, as he finished 2-4 with a pair of singles and collecting multiple hits in consecutive games for the first time since July 10-11 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Freddie Freeman brought his hitting streak to nine games as he singled against Cole Wilcox in the bottom of the eighth inning. Freeman is now hitting .459 (17-37) over his last nine games.

Kiké Hernández returned to the starting lineup for the first time since May 26, finishing 0-3 and having his season average drop to .429.

• Home runs— Dalton Rushing (12), Teoscar Hernández (9)
• WP—Roki Sasaki (5-5): 5 1/3 IP, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
• LP—Bryan Woo (7-8): 5 IP, 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts

The Dodgers cap off their homestand with a three-game weekend series against the Boston Red Sox beginning Friday (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Ranger Suarez goes for Boston, while the Dodgers have yet to announce Friday’s starter.