Landon Knack Sharp While Dodgers Offense Explodes In Win Against Nationals

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a series win against the Washington Nationals with an 11-2 win, led by a strong offensive showing and a quality start turned in by Landon Knack.

The Dodgers had previously lost three consecutive series, including one to the Nationals at Dodger Stadium, last taking a series from April 8-10 against the Minnesota Twins.

Making the second start of his career, Knack pitched six innings while giving up two runs on three hits, earning the quality start before he was replaced by Ryan Brasier in the seventh. Knack added five walks and three strikeouts.

It took him a little bit to settle into the game, getting out of a first inning jam after a pair of singles, and allowing two runs in the second. The two runs came via a homer from Nick Senzel, and a bases loaded walk to Joey Meneses after he walked two hitters and hit another to put three runners on.

But following that bases loaded walk, Knack retired 13 consecutive hitters while the Dodgers’ offense went to work.

Shohei Ohtani started them off with a first inning double, and Will Smith singled to drive him in, scoring the first run of the game. In the second inning, Mookie Betts drove in two more runs with a single following a single from Gavin Lux and double from Andy Pages.

After Knack’s second inning, the Dodgers took back one of those runs in the third with a double from Smith and an RBI single from Max Muncy. In the fifth, Smith started the Dodgers off with a single and Muncy doubled, before Lux followed with a two-run single to give the Dodgers a four-run lead.

Pages hit his second career home run in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers their seventh run. Betts doubled and Ohtani followed with another for the eighth run of the game.

The Dodgers added on in the ninth with a single from Pages and Betts, and another double from Ohtani. Freddie Freeman then singled in two more for the Dodgers’ 11th run of the game.

Key Dodgers offensive contributors

Smith finished his day going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI. Betts went 4-for-6 with two RBI and a double, and Lux had two hits as well, with two runs driven in.

Muncy picked up two hits, but only drove in one run. Pages had three hits, scoring three runs and driving in one.

Meanwhile, Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 22 games and picked up three doubles with two runs scored and two RBI.

Betts’ double in the eighth inning was his first extra-base hit away from Dodger Stadium in 2024.

As a team, the Dodgers combined for 20 hits. James Outman was the only Dodgers’ starter to not get a hit in the game.