Will Smith delivered a dramatic finish at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon, blasting a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The victory snapped Arizona’s bid for a three-game sweep and kept the Dodgers atop the National League West.
Smith, who had the day off before being called to hit for Dalton Rushing, wasted little time making an impact. On the second pitch from Arizona reliever John Curtiss, Smith turned on a 96.4 mph fastball and drove it 420 feet into the left-center field seats. It was his 17th home run of the season and ensured Los Angeles would not squander a strong outing from starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The win pushed the Dodgers to a two-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the division race after San Diego fell 7-2 at Minnesota. Los Angeles is now 77-55, while Arizona slipped to 64-68. Oddsmakers had the Dodgers favored at -185, with the Diamondbacks listed at +160. The total runs line was set at 8.5, and Smith’s game-winner pushed the combined score just over the mark.
For much of the afternoon, Yamamoto gave Los Angeles every chance to secure the win. The right-hander struck out 10, matching a career high, and allowed just one run over seven innings. He retired the first 10 batters he faced before Ketel Marte ended the streak with a bunt single in the fourth inning. It was Yamamoto’s fifth outing in his last 10 starts, during which he pitched at least seven innings, marking another step forward for the 25-year-old.
Los Angeles built its early lead behind timely hitting. Freddie Freeman doubled in a run in the first inning, and Miguel Rojas followed with an RBI single. Andy Pages added to the scoring with a pair of run-producing at-bats, including a sacrifice fly and a single that gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead heading into the late innings.
The Diamondbacks, however, rallied in the eighth. With two outs and two runners on, Corbin Carroll connected on a Tanner Scott fastball, sending it over the right-field wall for a three-run homer that tied the game at 4-4. Carroll finished with two hits, joining Marte and Adrian Del Castillo as the offensive leaders for Arizona. Starter Brandon Pfaadt labored through 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs before giving way to the bullpen.
Despite the blown save opportunity, the Dodgers’ relief corps held on. Blake Treinen (1-2) tossed a perfect top of the ninth to win after Smith’s heroics sealed the outcome. Curtiss (2-1), who had pitched well in recent weeks, absorbed the loss on his second home run allowed this season.
The Diamondbacks will head home to open a series against the Texas Rangers on Monday, with right-hander Ryne Nelson (7-3, 3.53 ERA) set to take the mound. The Dodgers continue their road trip Tuesday in Pittsburgh, where veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw (9-2, 3.06 ERA) is scheduled to open a three-game set against the Pirates.