Landon Knack provided the Los Angeles Dodgers with much-needed length in his spot start and Freddie Freeman led an offensive breakout against the Miami Marlins’ bullpen in a 10-1 win in the rubber match of the series.
Heading into the rubber match, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had indicated the club was still deciding whether Knack would start or follow an opener and fill a bulk role for the bullpen game. They settled on the right-hander making a traditional start in his fourth overall game (third as a starter) with the team this season.
Knack was efficient and largely avoided trouble until giving up a leadoff double in the fifth inning. He also issued a two-out walk but stranded both runners to keep the game scoreless.
Knack’s effort to that point was being matched by Marlins starter Valente Bellozo. He pitched into the sixth inning before giving way to the bullpen with Shohei Ohtani due up for a third time in the game.
Bellozo finished with seven strikeouts and limited the Dodgers to just one hit and two walks. Freddie Freeman’s single in the first inning after Ohtani was thrown out trying to steal second base was the Dodgers’ only hit off Bellozo. That extended Freeman’s hitting streak to 12 games.
The pitching change wound up backfiring on the Marlins as Ohtani greeted Cade Gibson with a triple. Mookie Betts then walked and Freeman also wasn’t fazed by the left-on-left matchup as he went to the opposite field for an RBI single that broke up the scoreless tie.
Armed with a slim lead, Knack allowed the first two batters to reach in the bottom of the sixth and gave way to Matt Sauer. He induced a double play and got a strikeout to get the Dodgers out of the jam.
A series of changes led to James Outman pinch-hitting for Miguel Rojas, who originally was due to bat for Michael Conforto. Outman worked a walk that ultimately led to Hyeseong Kim providing some insurance with an RBI base hit.
The inning continued to spiral on the Marlins from there, with Betts earning a bases-loaded walk and Freeman breaking the game open with a three-run triple. Andy Pages punctuated the big inning with an RBI single.
Outman added a three-run homer in the ninth inning to get the Dodgers to double-digits for the third time in six games against the Marlins this season.
Dodgers injuries
The Dodgers have dealt with a rash of injuries so far this season, and Evan Phillips became the latest. He was put on the 15-day injured list shortly after Wednesday’s game began, which amounted to Sauer joining the bullpen.
The Dodgers also lost Teoscar Hernández to the IL during the Marlins series, and Tommy Edman’s return has been delayed to after their road trip concludes.
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