The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four games by defeating the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, backed in part by home runs from Andy Pages and Will Smith.
Pages began his night with a homer that gave the Dodgers an early lead and later hit a game-tying blast in the fourth inning. The 24-year-old’s big performance came on the heels of his staredown with Dylan Cease in the series opener.
With the score still evened at three apiece in the sixth inning, Smith put the Dodgers up for a good by hitting a two-run homer off Jeremiah Estrada. The blast ended a 12-pitch at-bat, of which Smith fouled off nine.
“He was making good pitches. Got a really good fastball, I was able to foul off one splitter and was able to connect on a heater,” Smith said after the game.
Smith’s 12-pitch at-bat was the longest to end in a home run among all players this season.
Tuesday’s game between the Dodgers and Padres was another high-scoring affair that featured several lead changes. San Diego inched closer with a three-run seventh, but L.A. was able to close out the win and expand their lead in the National League West.
“We pretty much get everyone’s A game. Everybody comes in here and is ready for a fight with us, and even when we go on the road. We get everyone’s A game,” Smith said of the Dodgers’ opponents. “That’s a good ballclub over there. Games are always back and forth, they’re fun, two good teams going at it, so they’re fun games.”
Will Smith’s home run ‘at-bat of the season’
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was ejected in the bottom of the third inning for seeking clarity after umpires issued warnings to both benches in the wake of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani being hit by pitches.
Roberts predicted Smith’s home run while watching the game from his office and said it was one of the best at-bats all season.
“I was with Alex Torres, our clubhouse manager, and I might’ve made my first home run call of the season,” Roberts said. “I just saw the at-bat, saw he was bearing down, locking in. You can put it up there for at-bat of the season.”
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