A pair of big innings leads to a blowout to back Roki Sasaki – Dodgers Digest

After dropping the first game of the series and homestand yesterday in unfortunately dramatic fashion, the Dodgers came back today and broke out the bats in support of Roki Sasaki on the mound. Max Muncy had a big day before leaving with his illness, and the bottom of the order continued to produce for them as a pair of big innings led to a blowout 12-4 win over the Cubs.

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The game started with Roki Sasaki surrendering a single, but he rebounded quickly with pop-out and double play to face the minimum. But it was the Cubs who struck first in the 2nd when Seiya Suzuki bombed a homer to make it 1-0 Cubs.

SEI YA! The Cubs strike first in Los Angeles!

?: FOX pic.twitter.com/tRxlMrHIIK

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 25, 2026

In the 3rd, he got an out but then hit nine-hole hitter on a 2-2 count to put him on. That was followed by Dalton Rushing getting a bit lazy on a blocked ball in the dirt and the runner taking second, and after the runner made it to third on the second out, Michael Busch singled to plate a run that should’ve never scored to make it 2-0 Cubs.

Michael Busch makes it 2-0 Cubs!

?: FOX pic.twitter.com/pBHZzHz4X4

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 26, 2026

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Meanwhile, the bats started fine against Cubs starter Colin Rea, as a lead-off single, steal, and one-out walk gave them their first threat, but nothing came of it. After giving up just a two-out single in the 2nd, Shohei Ohtani drew a walk to start the 3rd and later Max Muncy mashed his ninth homer of the year to tie things up at 2-2.

Max ties it! pic.twitter.com/nLV5aJOG3q

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 26, 2026

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That didn’t last long, as Roki came back in the 4th and got the first two batters, then gave up a solo shot to Moises Ballesteros to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

Moisés Ballesteros gives the Cubs the lead again with a solo homer!

?: FOX pic.twitter.com/01W5E2SwIb

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 26, 2026

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Fortunately, the Dodgers choose right then to have their biggest offensive rally in their half of the 4th. With one down, Hyeseong Kim singled to start the rally, and Alex Freeland followed with a deep flyball to left that hit off the very top of the wall for a double that scored Kim and tied things up again. He got to third on a wild pitch and Ohtani walked again, which led to Freddie Freeman singling to score another that gave them a 4-3 lead and knocked Rea out.

Now facing Javier Assad, they continued the assault, as Muncy walked to load the bases and exited for Santiago Espinal since he was under the weather. After Kyle Tucker failed to come through despite getting 2-0 and 3-1 fastballs, it was Teoscar Hernandez to the rescue with a two-out single to plate a pair more. Dalton Rushing and Andy Pages then continued the train with singles of their own for two more runs for a six-run inning and an 8-3 lead.

A six-spot in the fourth! pic.twitter.com/rxxGYMB7Wn

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 26, 2026

Roki did give another run back immediately in the 5th on a Jacob Amaya homer to make it 8-4 Dodgers, but got through that inning. He also came out for the 6th, but gave up a walk and single, getting removed at that point.

Jack Dreyer entered and threw gas on the fire with a walk to load things up with nobody out, but got a pair of strikeouts to rebound. Will Klein was up next and got a comeback for an out to squash that potential rally. He also continued in the 7th and got a scoreless frame to kinda quiet things down.

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The Dodgers stranded a lead-off double in the 5th, albeit it happened in hilarious and humiliating fashion for PCA.

Camera’s out. pic.twitter.com/1C7LhsPAkp

— James¹⁷¹⁸🎌 (@ShotimeLAD) April 26, 2026

They didn’t do that in the 6th. Still against Assad, Tucker led off with a double, Teoscar singled, and Rushing walked to load the bases. Again with nobody out, the Dodgers came through with a Pages double to score a pair, and a Kim groundout tacking another run on for an 11-4 game.

We’ll take four more. pic.twitter.com/ldJYU1swKl

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 26, 2026

After a strikeout for out two, that was Assad’s end, and it was Vince Velasquez in. He uncorked a wild pitch to score Pages and push things to 12-4. Saving their pen, he worked around a double in the 7th and got a clean 8th.

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To finish things off, Kyle Hurt began the 8th but faced a lead-off single and then Freeland dropping a catch at second for an error, but a double play and PCA’s continued humiliation led to scoreless frame.

I made sure to watch. 👍 https://t.co/NWEu50FZfP pic.twitter.com/0W64EH16yb

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 26, 2026

To finish things off was Jake Eder in the 9th, who cruised through the frame to end the game.

Kiké trying to get Michael to do the Dodgers celebration. 😂 pic.twitter.com/T1B1fskXPx

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 26, 2026

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18-9, the Dodgers avoid their season being over or whatever.

The series finale is tomorrow at the early Sunday time of 10:10 AM HT/1:10 PM PT/4:10 PM ET. It’ll be Justin Wrobleski looking to continue to roll against Shota Imanaga.