LOS ANGELES — The sights, sounds and smells have all been familiar to Landon Knack for months now and on Wednesday the right-hander finally got his first chance to wade into the fray.
Knack made his major league debut and needed an inning to get his bearings before showing the presence that has been at the center of the Dodgers since February.
As good as the rookie was, Washington Nationals starter Jake Irwin was even better as the Dodgers fell 2-0, losing each of the first two series at home. The Dodgers have lost three of their last four series overall and are 5-7 since April 5.
Second in the MLB with 106 points at the start of Wednesday’s game, the Dodgers were shut out for the first time this season.
From Knack’s time at major league training camp during spring training to the team’s trip to South Korea, and even the final days spent in Los Angeles as his opportunity approached, the appearance Wednesday had been so close and also an ocean away at one point.
Although Knack was not part of the Opening Day squad for two March games against the San Diego Padres in South Korea, he was included in the 31-man overseas group then that the Dodgers also played two exhibition games.
With Bobby Miller now on the injured list, Knack’s moment arrived on Wednesday. And although he allowed two runs in the first inning on a homer by CJ Abrams and a sacrifice fly by Joey Meneses, he settled in well to deliver five efficient innings.
Knack struck out 10 straight batters starting with the final out of the first inning and faced the minimum 12 batters over his final four innings.
But Knack faced a determined Irwin, who allowed just four hits in six scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
The Dodgers had their chances but didn’t score after putting two runners on board in the first inning with one out. They also failed to deliver after one-out doubles by James Outman and Max Muncy in the second and fourth innings, respectively.
A day after manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani had been too anxious lately as he swung early at bats in scoring situations, Ohtani had three of the Dodgers’ five hits, but none of his at bat came with runners in scoring position. It was Ohtani’s 10th multi-hit game of the season and his third three-hit game.
After having five hits to tie a career high in Tuesday night’s win, Mookie Betts went 0 for 4 to lead the way.
More to come on this story.
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