Dodgers rally after rough start by Landon Knack to split series with Mets
Dodgers pitcher Landon Knack delivers against the New York Mets in the first inning Thursday at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
It was supposed to be a day off for Freddie Freeman.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quipped before the game that the 35-year-old veteran first baseman had begun to understand the value of an off day as he's dealt with discomfort in his ankle this season.
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But with the go-ahead run on second base in the eighth inning, Roberts summoned Freeman off the bench. Was it time for another magical, Freddie Freeman moment at Chavez Ravine?
Not so fast. Mets manager Craig Counsell called for an intentional walk, and up walked Michael Conforto. The 46,364 fans at Dodger Stadium already booed the struggling outfielder after his third-inning strikeout. Hitting .165 entering the game, he was one of the unlikeliest to lead the Dodgers to a comeback victory. He'd yet to come through.
But all Conforto needed was one hit, one chance. And he delivered.
Against Mets setup man Reed Garrett, Conforto ripped a go-ahead RBI single into left field, helping the Dodgers complete a three-run comeback to defeat the Mets 6-5 and salvage a series split against a potential NL playoff opponent.
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Conforto's first hit with runners in scoring position since March 31 — and his first hit this season with runners in scoring position with two outs — put the Dodgers two games ahead of the Padres in the NL West after their 3-2 loss to the Giants on Thursday.
Mets southpaw David Peterson had made things difficult before the eighth. He struck out six and gave up three runs across seven innings.
Read more: Will Dodgers' pitchers ever get healthy? How the team is tackling its biggest problem
The longevity the Mets got from Peterson, however, was the opposite of what the Dodgers received from right-hander Landon Knack.
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Knack had turned a corner across his last two outings. Against both New York teams, he twirled a career-high-tying six innings and gave up just one earned run in each start. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior paid close attention to Knack's adjustments, praising his rise from early-season appearances in which he was bounced from games, giving up five runs against the Nationals and Athletics.
'His ability is to be able to throw multiple pitches in any count, in any situation, and that was a little bit off early on,' Prior said, 'but now I think he's starting to finally get into the groove and kind of get back to where he was throwing the ball last year.'
Prior noted what Knack could do when he's on — mixing pitches and speeds, making for off-balance at-bats. But he also explained what happens when Knack is off — leaving pitches in the middle zone, while falling behind in counts.
Pete Alonso slides past Dodgers catcher Will Smith to score a run for the Mets in the third inning Thursday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Knack was at his least effective Thursday. He gave up four runs — including three home runs — leaving fastballs over the plate to Pete Alonso and Starling Marte in the first and third innings. He also walked five across 3 ⅓ innings.
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Roberts had to lean on his bullpen. Jack Dreyer took the ball through the middle of the fifth and José Ureña — who signed with the Dodgers on Tuesday — pitched 2 ⅓ innings to help save bullpen arms ahead of a six-game trip starting Friday in St. Louis.
Roberts, who said before the game that he was still deciding whether Friday would feature a spot start or a bullpen game, might have had his hand forced toward the former after Knack's short outing.
Southpaw Justin Wrobleski's turn in the rotation is up in triple-A Oklahoma City and would be a likely choice should the Dodgers turn to a spot start. Wrobleski gave up five runs in four innings during his last triple-A appearance.
Read more: Shohei Ohtani thought he was 'in trouble' before Dave Roberts gifted him a toy Porsche
Etc.
Roberts said right-handed relief pitchers Kirby Yates (right hamstring strain) and Michael Kopech (right shoulder impingement) have a 'good possibility' of being activated off the injured list during the weekend series in St. Louis.
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Likely candidates to be removed from the 26-man roster over the next few days are Ryan Loutos (five earned runs in three innings with the Dodgers) — who gave up a three-run home run in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Mets — and Ureña.
Outfielders James Outman and Esteury Ruiz both had lockers in the Dodgers clubhouse Thursday. Roberts said the duo were on the taxi squad — as insurance for Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman — and would likely be headed back to triple-A later in the day.
Roberts gave clean bills of health to Edman (right ankle) and Kim (fouled a ball off his foot). Edman returned to the Dodgers' lineup after two days off and hit sixth at second base.
'Looks like we're out of the clear with those two active guys,' Roberts said.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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