Roki Sasaki pulled from Dodger Stadium debut in 2nd inning - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Roki Sasaki's career with the Dodgers is not off to a sensational start.

For a young pitcher who has been a dominant force at every other step in his meteoric baseball career, that's both a surprise and a challenge.

Sasaki's Dodger Stadium debut ended in the second inning Saturday night after the touted right-hander again struggled with his control against the Detroit Tigers. He issued four walks and got only five outs while throwing 61 pitches to 12 batters before manager Dave Roberts pulled him.

Sasaki made his major league debut last week against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, where he walked five in three innings while throwing just 25 strikes among 56 pitches. Back in Los Angeles, he allowed two runs and three singles while throwing 32 strikes and repeatedly falling behind the Tigers early in counts.

Sasaki didn't blame nervousness for his wildness, although his manager and catcher said it had to be a factor.

«I felt like I was able to get into the game pretty well, without any nerves,» Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton. «I just didn't feel like I had the stuff today.»

It's far too early for the Dodgers to worry seriously about Sasaki, but the 23-year-old prospect touted as Japan's most impressive young pitcher in several years has not yet found his groove with Los Angeles.

Aside from control issues for a pitcher who consistently hit the strike zone throughout his tenure with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki isn't getting consistency from his splitter, which can be unhittable at its best.

«We have full faith in him,» catcher Will Smith said. «He's a super-talented pitcher. He knows what he's doing. He's pitched on the biggest stages and stuff like that. So back to the drawing board. Have a good