The Dodgers suffered a major setback when Teoscar Hernandez had to leave the game after being hit by a pitch from left-hander Matthew Boyd as the Guardians secured a 3-1 victory on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
Hernandez was hit by a pitch in the lower part of his left leg and exited the game. The Dodgers later announced that he had a left foot contusion. X-rays came back negative, but he will undergo further tests Saturday.
Andrés Jiménez hit a two-run home run to right field off right-hander Landon Knack.
Our WiFi is asleep, but we're wide awake.
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 7, 2024
Turn us up, Gimé!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/c8d4m6AOOE
Knack was called up on Friday, striking out a career-high eight batters against the Guardians.
Knack (2-3, 3.00 ERA) pitched six strong innings, allowing three hits and two runs in his first start since Aug. 13 in Milwaukee. He had a great start through the first five innings, mixing up his pitches and keeping the batters off balance. Knack didn’t allow his first hit until the fifth inning.
It wasn’t until the sixth inning that Knack ran into trouble, allowing Brayan Rocchio to lead off with a single, followed by Andres Jimenez's two-run home run to right field.
Shohei Ohtani hits a home run to center field off left-hander Matthew Boyd, for his 45th of the season, making him the first player to achieve 45-45.
A 45/45 season and counting for Shohei Ohtani! pic.twitter.com/1oWOdIphFT
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 7, 2024
Ohtani picked up his 10th plate appearance, tying his career high.
The Dodgers did not add additional offense on Friday night, so there was not much run support for Knack's strong performance.
Boyd (2-1, 2.20 ERA) tossed six innings, allowing three hits, one run and six strikeouts.
The Guardians added an insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo home run by Rocchio, his 8th of the season. The home run, which landed in the Dodgers' bullpen, gave the Guardians a 3-1 lead in the eighth.
In the eighth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out. Ohtani singled, Betts doubled and reliever Hunter Gaddis intentionally walked Freddie Freeman. Chris Taylor, who had replaced Hernández, grounded into an inning ending double play.
Guardians' right-handed closer, Emmanuel Clase, entered the game in the ninth inning and had no trouble getting through the Dodgers' bottom part of the lineup, collecting his 42nd save.
The second game of the three-game series will feature Cleveland’s right-hander Gavin Williams (3-7, 4.55 ERA) against left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1, 6.88 ERA), who was called up on Friday.