Sun Apr 06 20:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Phillies Fall to Dodgers, Offense Struggles Against Sasaki

**Philadelphia, PA** – The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, hampered by a lack of offensive production and another strong outing from Dodgers’ pitching, which effectively stifled their batters.

Starting pitcher Aaron Nola delivered a quality start, pitching six innings and allowing three earned runs, all of which came on home runs. While Nola expressed some dissatisfaction with his fastball command, the Phillies’ struggles extended beyond their starter. All 13 runs allowed by Phillies starters this season have been via home runs, eight of those by Nola himself.

The Phillies’ offense managed only four hits against Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki, who showcased an impressive splitter that baffled Philadelphia batters. While they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to singles by Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, Sasaki retired nine batters in a row after that, allowing just one walk through his outing. The Phillies’ attempts to rally in later innings fell short, partly due to a double play which squashed a potential scoring threat.

Manager Rob Thomson praised Sasaki’s improved strike throwing compared to his previous starts, highlighting the difficulty the Phillies faced against his deceptive splitter. Turner echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the rarity and effectiveness of the pitch in Major League Baseball. Though the Phillies brought in several relief pitchers in an attempt to keep the game close, their efforts were ultimately in vain. The Dodgers’ closer, Tanner Scott, retired the final three batters, securing the victory for Los Angeles. The Phillies will look to bounce back in their next game.

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