Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
The Los Angeles Dodgers reached 90 wins for the 11th consecutive season. Landon Knack finally gave the Dodgers a good start. Will Smith, Tommy Edman, and Kiké Hernández homered. Though Zach Logue struggled, the bullpen performed well. The Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 8-to-4. Their magic number is 8.
The Dodgers sent down Bobby Miller and Michael Grove. They activated Joe Kelly and purchased a contract for Zach Logue. Miller has been horrible since his brilliant first start of this season against the Saint Louis Cardinals. He has dealt with shoulder inflammation and an undisclosed knee injury. The Dodgers can’t deal with Miller’s ineffectiveness.
Since the bullpen has pitched 35 innings over the last six games, the Dodgers need new arms. Kelly might not be great, but he is a veteran with playoff experience. Logue is a new fresh left-handed reliever.
The Dodgers put Tyler Glasnow on the 60-day IL, essentially ending his first season with his hometown team. During the series against the Atlanta Braves, Glasnow left the team after he was diagnosed with an elbow sprain on his surgically repaired right elbow.
The Dodgers received good news on Clayton Kershaw. On Wednesday in Miami, Kershaw pitched 83 pitches in a bullpen session off a normal mound. He has adapted his shoes. Although he has been on the IL since August 31st, he has been throwing a lot off an adapted mound. The Dodgers and Kershaw are hopeful he can return during the regular season to prepare for the postseason.
Shohei Ohtani singled to open the game and stole his 49th base. He went to third on a throwing error. He was caught in a rundown. The Dodgers didn’t score.
Landon Knack was looking to rebound from his first bad start in the major leagues. He allowed a lead-off single on his 11th pitch. Will Smith made a throwing error trying to catch a runner trying to steal. He got out of the jam scorelessly.
With an out in the second, Smith blasted a solo home run.
To start the second, Knack walked a batter. He retired the next three batters thanks to a fabulous play by Mookie Betts who was playing second base coming off the IL.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the third.
Since the Cubs series last week when Yoshinobu Yamamoto returned, Knack was putting together the best start. Knack was perfect in the third.
Freddie Freeman singled with an out in the fourth. Tommy Edman blasted a two-run homer. After two runners reached, Kiké Hernández blasted a three-run homer. Chris Taylor singled.
Knack had a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth inning.
Freddie Freeman doubled with an out in the fifth. The Dodgers didn’t score more in the fifth.
Knack issued a walk to begin the fifth. He allowed a single with two outs and moved the runner to second. He got out of the jam scorelessly.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the sixth.
Joe Kelly relieved Knack in the sixth. He was perfect.
Zach Logue relieved Kelly in the seventh. He gave up a single to open the inning and doubled the runner to third. Logue allowed another two-run single.
Blake Treinen relieved Logue who retired no one in the seventh. Treinen gave up a sacrifice fly to score a run belonging to Logue. Kiké Hernández had a throwing error. While Smith made another wild throw, Andy Pages nailed the runner.
Freeman reached on an error to start the eighth. Smith doubled in Freeman after stealing second. Max Muncy was walked intentionally. Taylor singled in two runners.
Michael Kopech relieved Treinen in the eighth. He allowed a lead-off single and issued a walk but a double play ended the inning scorelessly for Kopech.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the ninth.
Brent Honeywell relieved Kopech in the ninth. He allowed two hits and a sacrifice fly.
