The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games with a 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, led by Will Smith’s big performance at the plate.
The All-Star catcher began his night with a solo home run in the second inning that gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. It was Smith’s first long ball since July 6 as he’s been mired in a prolonged skid.
The 29-year-old finished 3-for-4 and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was happy to see Smith get rewarded for his ongoing work, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“He needed it. He’s been grinding, man,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He just doesn’t show it from his demeanor. But he’s been working really hard. For him to square some balls up, keep a ball fair that was in, another ball in and he lined it to left field. Getting to that pitch, which he wasn’t getting to the last few weeks. Just to throw out some hits was a good thing.”
Smith hit sixth in the Dodgers lineup for the second consecutive game, which Roberts explained was to help take pressure off him:
“For me I just wanted to give him a different look, let the game come to him,” Roberts said. “I know he doesn’t feel pressure but I still believe that letting the game happen, it might in some way take a little pressure off.
“I still believe that, for us to be our best version of our ballclub, he’s got to be hitting fourth or fifth. But it goes to him swinging the bat well and earning that right.”
Smith got off to a scorching start for the Dodgers this season before cooling off in recent weeks. When asked to explain his struggles, Smith recently said that every player has these kind of stretches over the course of a season.
After his big game against the Brewers, Smith will look to find some momentum and potentially move back up in the Dodgers lineup.
Will Smith’s 2024 season
In 97 games this season, Smith is batting .251/.331/.444 with 21 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs and 62 RBI over 420 plate appearances.
He hit .272/.346/.492 in 80 games during the first half but is batting just .152/.263/.227 since the All-Star break.
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