NLCS: Dave Roberts stuck to his game plan… and it cost the Dodgers in Game 2

LOS ANGELES – As he considered how his team might survive a bullpen game in Game 2 of the NLCS, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts imagined long reliever Landon Knack recording the most outs. He hoped Knack could eat up innings and serve as an early innings bridge to the Dodgers' four high-leverage relievers.

Roberts' decision not to deviate from that plan proved to be one of the key decisions in the Dodgers' 7-3 loss to the Mets on Monday. With two outs to start the second inning, the bases loaded and the Dodgers already facing a two-run deficit, Roberts stuck with Knack, even as the manager recognized that the 27-year-old hurler “wasn't sharp overall “.

Either unable to control his fastball or trusting it in a key situation, Knack threw slider after slider to Mets third baseman Mark Vientos. Then, on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, when Knack was full, he unleashed a 95 mph fastball that took too much off the plate.

Knack knew the outcome when Vientos' Grand Slam was still underway. He crouched on the mound and watched in horror as the ball sailed over the right-center field wall at Dodger Stadium, the decisive blow in a Mets victory that tied the best-of-seven NLCS at one game each heading into Game 3 Wednesday equalized in New York.

When asked several times if he considered pulling Knack in the second inning, Roberts insisted he did not. With left-hander Alex Vesia injured and reliever Daniel Hudson unavailable to pitch, Roberts said he didn't think the injury-plagued Dodgers “could finish the game” if Knack didn't last at least a few innings.

“We had an opportunity to minimize the damage,” Roberts said. “He had an impact on the count. He had Vientos 1-2. It was 3-2 and then he made a mistake with the heater. This was clearly a huge success.”

After opening the NLCS with a breezy shutout win on Sunday, the Dodgers got a reality check the following afternoon. The Dodgers were reminded that getting to the World Series won't be easy, especially against an opponent as talented, determined and resilient as the never-say-die Mets.

Pitching alone is not enough…

In the Dodgers' final three playoff games, a pitching staff that was supposed to be the team's greatest weakness turned out to be its greatest strength. The Dodgers pitched 33 consecutive scoreless innings, tying a postseason record set by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.

On Monday, the Dodgers' attempt to extend that streak ended before many of their fans even reached their seats. Mets leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor worked eight pitches off Dodgers starter Ryan Brasier and then smashed a hanging breaking ball into the right field stands.

Things got even worse for the home team in the following inning when Knack took the mound. Tyrone Taylor doubled in the Mets' second run on a hanging slider. Then, with runners on second and third and two outs, Roberts intentionally walked Lindor and took advantage of his chances with crack against Vientos.

During his post-match media conference, a question about the intentional walk prompted a mischievous smile from Vientos. The 24-year-old slugger admitted: “I definitely took it personally.”

“I want them to accompany him in this situation and put me there,” he added.

While Roberts has Walker Buehler, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty in the starting lineup for the next three games, Monday's loss was a reminder that pitching alone likely won't lead the Dodgers to a World Series title. Injuries have slowed the paper-thin lineup of Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone and Clayton Kershaw. This is a team that needs its bats to shoulder a heavy load.

…while the Dodgers' hitters are mostly silent

The Dodgers' lineup couldn't muster much offense on Monday against Mets starter Sean Manaea, particularly Shohei Ohtani. Manaea threw a fastball past a late Ohtani to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Manaea froze him with another fastball a few innings later.

Ohtani “didn’t look comfortable,” despite Manaea’s lowered arm angle, Roberts said. The Dodgers manager added that Ohtani will have to adapt to the Mets' strategy of keeping the ball away from him.

Asked if he would consider moving Ohtani back a spot or two in the lineup to give him more offense with runners on base, Roberts said he was not in favor of such a change. He trusts the Dodgers' bottom hitter to get on base for Ohtani, and he wants his best hitter to come to the plate as often as possible.

“Honestly, I want him to get five at-bats,” Roberts said.

The biggest threat the Dodgers posed on Monday came from a suspect Mets defense. LA sent the decisive run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning after Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias misplayed a bouncing ball from Freddie Freeman, turning an almost certain double play into a near-disaster for New York.

Luckily for the Mets, their bullpen was up to the challenge. Phil Maton got Kiké Hernández to hit a double play in the bottom of the inning to limit the damage. Then Edwin Díaz escaped in the eighth and ninth rounds and tied the score.

While the Dodgers missed their chance to take control of the series, they head to New York feeling good. Their top backup players will be rested and ready for Game 3 after Roberts decided not to use them on Monday.

“It never feels good to lose,” Roberts said, “but feeling like you have your leverage ready for the next three games, that’s a good feeling for me.”