Dodgers: Will Smith Speaks About Game Winning Home Run
The Dodgers and Rockies were scoreless through 8 innings, and both sides had 4 hits apiece. In the top of the ninth inning, rookie Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a 3-run home run with one out to lift the Dodgers up 3-0 against the Rockies. That was followed with a 2-run home run by new addition Kristopher Negron.
Can't leave Denver without putting on a show. pic.twitter.com/qfez1Phh2o
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 31, 2019
The team turned to JT Chargois to hopefully complete the shutout, but he struggled right off the bat. After allowing a triple and RBI single to break the shutout, manager Dave Roberts had to turn to closer Kenley Jansen put out any fire.
Kenley shut down the Rockies comeback attempt quickly recording outs on a flyball out, and a double play to end the game. The Dodgers won the game 5-1, to take the rubber match against the Rockies. Dodgers improve to 71-39.
After the game Will Smith caught up with Alanna Rizzo about his heroics.
.@will_smith30 talks post-game with @alannarizzo about his 9th-inning at-bat that broke the tie for the #Dodgers and his first time catching @HyunJinRyu99. pic.twitter.com/dzg5D8TqRs
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 31, 2019
I was just kind of looking for something middle, got that cutter on me, that’s second pitch, and then left from middle and I hit it, took it where I wanted to.
Will Smith continued on about capitalizing against Rockies closer, Wade Davis.
That’s all I was really trying to do, is just get the ball in the outfield, Belli’s fast at second, he was going to score no matter what, and got in the air, and got out of there.
Smith on Ryu
Moreover, the young catcher also caught his first Hyun-Jin Ryu start, and shared his thoughts on working with the ace.
Ryu pitched really well today, he had all his stuff working, and he did what he done all year. It was pretty easy [working with Ryu] honestly, you just let him do his thing, you set up where he wants, and let the ball work.
Manager Dave Roberts added a thought on Will Smith’s performance.
The Fresh Prince delivered again.
Smith is now batting .333 on the season with 5 home runs and 15 RBI in 39 at-bats.
Smith is an amazing young talent, like Verdugo and Beaty, and we are fortunate to reap the benefits of his defensive ability and clutch hitting. Maybe its just me, but Smith comes across as a player who knows he belongs in the big league….and it shows….how gracious was he to give props right back to Ryu?
Barb, I agree he has handled the spotlight well. The Dodgers are getting a lot of flack from pundits like the LA Times Plaschke saying they blew the chance at a WS because they refused to trade away Ruiz and Lux.
The Dodgers are building a young cost-controlled team. They have slated Lux to fill 2nd and possibly SS later. Lux is destroying AAA like few players before him.
An infield next year of Muncy, Lux, Seager, Turner, and Smith is incredibly potent and very good defensively. When you add an OF of Bellinger, Pollock, and Verdugo plus a rotation of Kershaw, Buehler, Maeda, Urias and (I hope they sign him to a contract Ryu) That rotation is as good as any in Baseball and maybe the Number 1 rotation in all of baseball. So they should not trade Lux who will be an everyday player for a reliever.