CHICAGO - Roki Sasaki was charged with the loss after surrendering seven runs in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 8-2 defeat to the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Sasaki (3-4) allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out four over 4-1/3 innings at Rate Field.
"I wasn't able to throw as required (by the catcher) after allowing runners to reach base in the fifth inning," Sasaki said of the frame, in which the White Sox scored seven runs.
"I didn't want to give up any runs, and I ended up trying to overpower the hitters."
Sasaki's teammate, Shohei Ohtani, was out of the Dodgers' lineup on Friday after exiting the previous day's game due to left knee inflammation.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani underwent imaging on his knee that came back clean, adding there were "no findings. It's just the normal wear and tear."
The Dodgers are hoping that the two-way player will return this weekend and the injury will not affect his next pitching start, which is projected for Wednesday.
In other Major League Baseball action, Kazuma Okamoto hit his 14th home run of the season, his first homer in nine games, as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 8-5.
Okamoto delivered a two-run homer to left field in the first inning and went 1-for-4 with two RBIs at Rogers Centre.
