The Los Angeles Dodgers went with a bullpen game for the second time this postseason, but had a different approach against the New York Mets as Landon Knack was asked to fill a bulk role.
Ryan Brasier again served as the opener and allowed a leadoff home run to Francisco Lindor in the top of the first. Knack took the ball in the second inning, which was a shift from the Dodgers’ first bullpen game when they used a succession of high-leverage relievers early.
Knack allowed five runs on five hits and collected two strikeouts against three walks in just two innings of work. The big blow was Mark Vientos’ two-out grand slam in the top of the second.
“Yeah, it was the plan to go to him and take down the most outs today,” manager Dave Roberts said of Knack pitching in a bulk role.
Knack was needed to log multiple innings in order to save the Dodgers bullpen for the rest of the NLCS.
“I really wasn’t,” Roberts answered when asked if he considered going to a high-leverage pitcher after Knack’s struggles in the second inning. “I think in that situation you still have to be able to finish the game.
“You’re talking about the second inning right there, so you have a guy on the mound that has to eat up innings. You go to anyone else, we’re not going to be able to finish the game.
“I think as far as kind of where we’re at, it never feels good losing. But to feel you’ve got your leverage guys ready to go for the next three games, I feel really good about that. So it was as least costly as it could be because of what (Brent) Honeywell did, (Anthony) Banda, (Edgardo) Henriquez did. So that was certainly helpful.
“And offensively we’ve got a chance to see their guys, their leverage guys and force some up-downs. I think that was beneficial too.”
Roberts added that relying on Knack was further necessary due to Daniel Hudson not being available for Game 2, and Alex Vesia no longer being on the playoff roster because of an intercostal injury.
That also created an opportunity for Brent Honeywell, who logged three scoreless innings in his postseason debut.
“He did exactly what we needed. He allowed us to kind of chew up some innings, keep us in the ballgame,” Roberts said.
“He’s just kind of a guy that we trust to be able to get left and right out. Those are innings that a guy like that gives us that gives the best chance to win the ensuing game. It’s not lost on anyone in that clubhouse what Honey did for us and Henriquez as well.”
Will Landon Knack be part of future bullpen game?
If the Dodgers opt for another bullpen game in the NLCS, Roberts isn’t sure what it will entail for Knack or otherwise.
“Honestly, I have no idea,” he began. “Right now, just trying to process today, make sure that we learn from some of the things that we’ve got to get better at. And then we have Walker going with a fresh, leveragey ‘pen and focus on winning Game 3.”
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