In a thrilling showdown at Dodger Stadium, veteran catcher Will Smith, stepping in as a pinch-hitter, launched a dramatic walk-off home run to clinch a 4–3 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night. That shot extended the Dodgers’ winning streak to five games, wrapping up a dominant stretch against their NL West rivals.
Sheehan’s Return From Tommy John Inspires Dodgers
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan returned from Tommy John surgery and delivered four strong innings, surrendering only one run while fanning six and issuing no walks—an encouraging sign of recovery. His fastball sat in the low 90s, and he looked comfortable rediscovering his mechanics on the mound.
Rookie Justin Wrobleski followed with another impressive stint, tossing five innings, allowing two ninth-inning runs, and earning the win—combining for a nine-inning scoreless stretch for L.A. before the late Padre rally
Dodgers Rally, Padres Fight Back
San Diego took an early lead in the second inning on a two-out RBI single by Elias Díaz off Sheehan, going up 1–0
The Dodgers answered in the fifth. Max Muncy tripled to start the rally, and Andy Pages delivered an RBI fly ball. After a Tommy Edman single and a Hyeseong Kim double, rookie Dalton Rushing capped the inning with a two-run single—bringing L.A. ahead 3–1.
Tensions flared in this heated divisional series, with multiple hit-by-pitches across the previous three games. Andy Pages was plunked again in the seventh—highlighting the growing friction and intensity between the teams.
Ninth-Inning Drama Sets the Stage
Relief ace Wrobleski brought the Dodgers into the bottom of the ninth with a slim 3–2 lead. But San Diego refused to back down. Singles by Luis Arraez and Gavin Sheets, plus a throwing error by Muncy, loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly from Jake Cronenworth and a clutch double by Xander Bogaerts tied the game 3–3.
With the stage set, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts summoned backup catcher Will Smith to pinch-hit off closer Robert Suarez, who hadn’t allowed a homer in 31 innings.
Smith’s Historic Walk-Off
On a 90‑mph changeup, Smith smashed a towering drive into right field for his third career pinch-hit walk-off home run, tying Rick Monday for most in Dodgers history—and adding to only a handful of players with at least three such homers in MLB history.
Dodger Stadium erupted. Smith’s homer not only marked another chapter in his late-game legend but also secured the sixth walk-off win for L.A. this season.
Beyond the Blast: Smith’s MVP-Caliber Campaign
Smith’s meteoric season continues. His current .966 OPS ranks fourth in MLB among qualifiers—trailing only Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Cal Raleigh.. Now firmly atop the Dodgers’ offensive hierarchy, he’s moonlighting as their best late-game presence.
His manager is full of praise:
“He’s just a tough young ballplayer… now, he’s healthy, he’s strong… it’s just good to see. Because I’ve always had the utmost confidence in Will as a ballplayer.”.
Dodgers Edge Closer to Sweep
The win pushes L.A. to 5–1 over seven games in this intense stretch, and puts them one win away from sweeping the four-game series.
Next up: rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Thursday’s finale for the Dodgers as they aim to complete this roadblock over their rivals.
Final Thoughts: A Statement Late-Inning Splash
This win was more than a walk-off—it was a statement. A tandem of return-from-injury arms kept them in the game. A rookie chipped in in the fifth. And Will Smith delivered when it mattered most.
As the Dodgers chase playoff positioning and maintain their grip on the NL West, performances like this—backed by depth, resilience, and clutch bats—could define their season.
