Will Smith. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers catcher Will Smith shines in Opening Day win

By Matthew Brown | Last updated Mar 31, 2023 9:17 AM ET

Catcher Will Smith led the Los Angles Dodgers offense on Opening Day, driving in half of the runs during the team’s 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With the loss of Trea Turner, Smith moved up in the lineup, taking over as the No. 3 hitter. Smith collected three hits on the night and took advantage of the opportunity to drive in runs.

After the D-backs took an early two-run lead, Smith came up in the third inning with runners on second and third base. The 28-year-old shot a fastball off Zac Gallen the other way, scoring both runs and tying the game.

Tie it up, Will! pic.twitter.com/QHiP6N22eS
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 31, 2023

Then in the fifth inning with the score still tied and runners on the corners, Smith blooped an 0-2 pitch into right field, scoring the go-ahead run.

“We had pressure on them the whole night,” Smith said after the game. “It was big hit after big hit. [Gallen] was close to getting out of it with a zero, but it was just nice for us that I was able to do that. We just kept going after that.”

Clutch like Will. pic.twitter.com/RdXx7rVlvY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 31, 2023

After the Dodgers busted the game open, taking a 7-2 lead, Smith found himself up at the plate with the bases loaded but had to settle for a sacrifice fly.

“Smith was a star as far as seeing pitches, getting two-strike hits, two-out RBI, and just having good at-bats,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Everyone else sort of followed after that.”

Smith is expected to be back in the three-hole tomorrow as the Dodgers continue their series against Arizona.

Matthew Brown

Matthew Brown lives in the Los Angeles area and has grown up a Dodger fan his whole life. Matthew graduated from CSU Long Beach with his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2022. Whenever Matthew is not watching baseball, you can find him playing through the Halo video game series as well as collecting bobbleheads and Funko Pops.

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