Sasaki Singles, Rockies Take 7th Inning Lead!

Sasaki’s first time through the Royals’ batting order was a pleasant stroll, with three strikeouts with only a double and walk allowed. But then he walked three straight batters in the third inning to load the bases with one out. Manager Dave Roberts removed him from the game to prevent a taxing inning, with the intent of bringing him back in to begin the next frame, which is allowed during spring.

Nick Robertson got the final two outs of the fourth inning, stranding all three of Sasaki’s runners. In the fourth inning, Sasaki struck out a pair, but also allowed a single and a two-run home run. Then he ran a 3-0 count to Jonathan India, slipping on the delivery on one of the pitches, enough to warrant a mound visit from Roberts and a team trainer.

Sasaki stayed in and induced an inning-ending groundout that he ran to first base himself, a rare 1u on the scorecard. Roki Sasaki attributed his command issues in the third inning to his two-seamer, which he said threw him off mechanically. When asked about Dave Roberts’ mound visit in the fourth inning, he said his calves were about to cramp.

— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) March 18, 2026 Sasaki was also allowed to start the fifth inning, but was pulled when his 71st pitch of the game was smacked by Starling Marte for a leadoff double off the wall. Sasaki is officially credited with 3 1/3 innings though he pitched in parts of five innings, with three runs allowed. He struck out five but walked four, throwing nearly as many balls (33) as strikes (38).