Nationals 2, Dodgers 0: Landon Knack’s quality debut wasted by anemic offense, 3 of last 4 series dropped

The rubber match of the series against the Nationals resulted in a 2-0 shutout loss for the Dodgers. That now makes it five losses in their last seven games, and they’ve dropped three of the last four series.

A team like this probably shouldn’t be doing that.

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Landon Knack made his MLB debut today and things got off to about as bad a start imaginable, as CJ Abrams took the second pitch he threw deep.

Things didn’t get any easier for him either, as a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly made it 2-0 early. There were two outs at that point, but after a walk and getting behind 3-1 on another batter, things seemed to be snowballing. Thankfully, he rebounded to get his first MLB strikeout to end the threat.

One can obviously forgive him for being a bit nervous but he also settled in amazingly well, and he couldn’t have done much better the rest of the way. He faced the minimum over his final four innings, at one point retiring 10 in a row, and he had the only single he gave up erased by a double play.

A quality debut: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 75 Pitches.

Relieving him in the 6th was Alex Vesia, who got two quick outs but found himself in trouble after a pair of walks and three total stolen bases before getting a strikeout to end the threat.

Michael Grove entered in the 7th and faced the minimum thanks to having a walk erased by a caught stealing. He then came right back in the 8th and struck out the side to keep things moving, completing the game for the Dodgers in the 9th after only issuing a HBP.

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There have been no updates on the other side of things because the Dodgers were being dominated by Jake Irvin. They did have their chances, but couldn’t capitalize, stranding a single and walk in the 1st, a double in the 2nd, and a double in the 4th. However, that was basically all they got against the the righty as they went 0-for-6 with RISP and delivered six shutout frames.

Surprisingly, despite just 73 pitches, Irvin was removed, which seemed like doing the Dodgers a favor. However, they got just a one-out walk in the 7th and a two-out single and stolen base in the 8th.

Things were different in the 9th, however! They didn’t bother getting a baserunner.

lol

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Ryan Yarbrough rocked a cool shirt at least.

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12-9, a 93-win pace.

While the Dodgers will remain at home, they do have a day off tomorrow. Then they’ll welcome in the Mets on Friday at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET with Yoshinobu Yamamoto facing Sean Manaea.

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"A highly rational Internet troll." - Los Angeles Times