Dodgers waste Knack’s effective debut in shutout loss

LOS ANGELES >> The sights, sounds and smells all have been familiar to Landon Knack for months now and on Wednesday the righthander finally got his first chance to dive into the fray.

Knack made his major league debut and needed an inning to get his bearings before showing the presence that has been front and center for the Dodgers since February.

As good as the rookie was, Washington Nationals starter Jake Irwin was even better as the Dodgers fell, 2-0, to drop each of the first two series on the homestand. The Dodgers have lost three of their last four series overall and are 5-7 since April 5.

Second in MLB with 106 runs at the start of play Wednesday, the Dodgers were shut out for the first time this season.

“We hit some balls hard, right at some guys but it’s just one of

Will

Smith, acknowledging how Freddie Freeman was robbed three times by the right side of the Nationals’ infield.

From Knack’s time in major league camp at spring training to the team’s South Korea trip, and even the past few days spent in Los Angeles as his opportunity approached, Wednesday’s appearance had been so close and also an ocean away at one point.

Although Knack did not make the Opening Day roster for two March games against the San Diego Padres in South Korea, he was included in the 31-player overseas traveling party as the Dodgers also played a pair of exhibition games.

“Getting to spend time around them, spring training and (South)

Korea was a huge thing to feel part of the clubhouse and to feel at home here,” Knack said.

With Bobby Miller now on the injured list, Knack’s moment arrived. And while he gave up a pair of first-inning runs on a home run by CJ Abrams and a sacrifice fly from Joey Meneses, he settled in nicely to offer an effective five innings.

“It was more just the mindset, slowing things down for myself and making sure to take a breath,” Knack said of his bumpy opening inning. “After that, everything came a lot smoother.”

Knack retired 10 consecutive batters starting with the final out of the first inning and faced the minimum 12 batters over his final four innings.

“Nobody wants to get punched in the face right at first but he took it, bounced back and started executing pitchers,” Smith said.

But Knack was paired opposite a determined Irwin, who gave up

RYAN SUN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after getting stranded at third base as Freddie Freeman grounds out in the eighth inning Wednesday.