[Music] Landon Knack can't catch a break as
Dodgers NL West lead shrinks to four Landon Knack has been a human life preserver for the Dodgers an
unsung rookie right-hander who has helped keep the rotation afloat when se's get a little rough with
Tyler glasso Yoshi noou Yamamoto Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone on the injured list the Dodgers
summoned the 27-year-old right-hander from Triple A for the fifth time this season and Knack did
what he usually does give his team a chance to win this time with a six inning two run three
hit eight strikeout effort but knack's quality start could not match the one delivered by
Matthew Boyd the Cleveland left-hander who held a prolific Dodgers offense to one run and
three hits in six Innings of the Guardians 3 to1 victory in Chavez Ravine on Friday night Boyd
in his fifth start back from Tommy John surger struck out six and walked none to improve to 2
to1 with a 2.20 era his only mistake a center cut 89 mph Sinker that Shah a crushed 413 feet
to center field for his National League leading 45th home run and 100 100th RBI of the season in
the sixth Guardians right-hander Hunter Gattis escaped to Bases Loaded one out Jam in the eighth
and closer Emanuel clay retired the side in order with one strike out in the ninth for his 42nd and
save the Dodgers second straight loss on the heels of Wednesday night's 10 to1 shell lacking at the
hands of the angels in Anaheim reduced their NL West lead over the San Diego Padres to four
games as if the pregame news of stone going on the ilil because of shoulder inflammation
wasn't jarring enough the Dodgers absorbed another body blow in the bottom of the first when
cleanup hitter dios scare Hernandez was hit in the left foot by an 81 mph slider from boy and
was in so much pain he was pulled from the game Hernandez was initially diagnosed with a left
foot contusion X-rays were negative but when asked after the game how Hernandez was doing
manager Dave Roberts said not great Hernandez is batting 266 with 28 home runs and 87 RBIs and
ranks second on the team with a 287 average with runners in scoring position we're going to do some
scans on Saturday to get more information but he's as tough as they come and he could barely move
his foot Roberts said I don't see how it's not going to be an ilil situation but we'll probably
give him a couple of days to see how he comes out of it knack blanked the American League Central
leading Guardians on one hit and struck out 8 through five innings allowing only one Runner
to reach second when Jose Ramirez hit a one- out single in the fourth and stole a base number
nine batter Bri and Rocko LED off the sixth with a single to right and Roberts chose to let back go a
third time through the order even though Cleveland had three left-handed hitters and a switch hitter
coming up and the Dodgers had left-hander Anthony Bunda warming in the bullpen I just felt that he
was pitching really well Robert said of knack I like the way he was throwing Knack got Steven Quan
to fly out to Center but Andre's gimenez jumped on a first pitch fast ball that was slightly up
butt over the middle and drove a two-run homer to right for a two to0 Cleveland lead knack tired
Ramirez and Josh Naylor on fly balls to end the inning just kind of pulled a fast ball a little
bit left it a little bit to middle and he jumped me Knack said of the Home Run pitch I was trying
to get it away more than anything and it kind of leaked back over the plate it was the only mistake
in the 91 pitch effort from Knack who is 2 to3 with a 3. era in 11 games nine of them starts in
five big leak stints the Dodgers are 3 to six in his starts but Knack has given the team a chance
to win in eight of those games Landon was a star tonight Roberts said he did everything we hoped
for and more he's done it all year for us given his uncertain circumstances being up and down six
Innings two runs eight punch outs one walk and he gave us a good chance to win I'm looking forward
to him making his next start Knack didn't make more than three consecutive starts in his first
four stints with the Dodgers but with the number of starters on the ilil the way Knack is throwing
and the way he has navigated the challenges of being shuttled between triaa and the big leagues
he could remain in the rotation for the final 3 weeks of the regular season feel like myself how
embattled Dodgers pitcher Walker buer is salvaging his season it's really kind of taking it one day
at a time Knack said it's hard as you continue to go up and down to not think about the future and
where you are but like clich Shay says stay where your feet are and continue to work anytime I get
an opportunity here or there just show what we can do and keep taking advantage of the opportunities
it gives you a lot of confidence to go out there and see how your stuff plays against some of
the best teams some of the best players in the world the way that I've been able to come
out here and make pitches against these guys eyes makes me know I belong the Dodgers trimmed
the deficit to 2 to1 on aton's sixth inning Homer but Rocko burned him again in the eighth lining
a one and zero Sinker from Bund into the left field Bullpen for his eighth Homer and a 3 to1
Cleveland lead the Dodgers threatened in the bottom of the eighth when otney lined a one- out
single to right and took third on mie bets double to left Freddy Freeman was walked intentionally to
load the bases for Chris Taylor who had replaced Hernandez in the first Taylor fouled off three2
strike pitches before lining a 104 mph one hopper to Short Stop Rocko fielded the ball cleanly
and threw to second to start an inning ending 6-4-3 double play with Gavin Stone injured
who's left to carry Dodgers starting rotation