The Dodgers aren’t ready to call Roki Sasaki their closer, but who are they kidding?
Sasaki is their closer.
When the 23-year-old rookie from the Japanese countryside stepped onto the October stage on Wednesday night, he revealed himself to be more than the team’s best late-inning option.
He showed he was special.
He was Reggie-Bush-exploding-through-the-Frenso-State-defense special.
He was Yasiel-Puig-doubling-off-a-runner-for-the-final-out-in-his-debut special.
“Wow,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “Really, all you can say is wow.”
Watching Sasaki pitch the final inning of a two-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in their National League wild-card series, the patrons at Dodger Stadium at once recognized the novelty of his act.