Saturday, October 17, 2020

Dodgers extend NLCS with home runs from Will Smith, Corey Seager

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman is safe at second past Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner after a double during the eighth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager hits two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Victor Gonzalez throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor scores past Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud on a hit by Mookie Betts during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Enrique Hernandez forces Atlanta Braves Johan Camargo out at second after Cristian Pache hit into a double play during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate a three-run home run by Will Smith against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez throws against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates a three-run home run off Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Will Smith during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May watches from the dugout during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Will Smith, right, reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, back left, in the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson is safe at third past Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager on a single by Nick Markakis during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Cristian Pache celebrates after a RBI-single single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson celebrates with Freddie Freeman after scoring on a single by Cristian Pache during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly throws against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Tyler Matzek throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager watches his home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Marcell Ozuna watches after getting called out at home after leaving third early during the third inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen throws against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman, foreground runs on his way to scoring from third base on a sacrifice fly from teammate Travis d’Arnaud in the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) catches a fly ball from Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson then throws to home in the third inning of Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is save at first past Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts steals seconds past Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is tagged out in a run down by Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is tagged out in a run down by Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts steals seconds past Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts steals seconds past Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson is safe at third past Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager on a single by Nick Markakis during the second inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy walks to the dugout after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman celebrates at the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Travis d’Arnaud during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman hits double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May warms up before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May warms up before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner hit a double against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager warms up during batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Fans watch batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies warms up during batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Fans watch batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Atlanta Braves third baseman Pablo Sandoval smiles during batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw watches batting practice before Game 5 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Will Smith couldn’t lose.

In a moment straight out of a Hollywood script – namely “Gemini Man” – young Dodgers catcher Will Smith came to the plate in the sixth inning on Friday night with the Dodgers trailing by a run and Atlanta Braves lefty reliever Will Smith on the mound.

It was a moment big enough for two Will Smiths and Will Smith got the better of it, launching a three-run home run into the left-field seats and giving the Dodgers the lead. With Corey Seager – the one and only, as far as we know – hitting two home runs, the Dodgers beat the Braves, 7-3, in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

The win allows the Dodgers to continue “The Pursuit of Happyness,” extending the NLCS to a Game 6 on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. PT.

“Will doing what he did was awesome,” Seager said. “That’s the big moment but you need the big hit and he got it.”

For the first five innings, the Dodgers were in desperate need of a leading man.

Save for a six-inning burst in mid-series (the last three innings of Game 2 and the first three of Game 3), the Dodgers were being dominated by an assortment of Braves pitchers. The Game 5 starter, lefty A.J. Minter, was expected to “open” a bullpen game for the starter-depleted Braves in Game 5. In his first start since college (Texas A&M), Minter hogged the spotlight. He retired nine of the 10 Dodgers batters he faced in three innings, striking out seven of them.

Before the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was hoping for “a Walker Buehler moment” from his starter Dustin May, referring to Buehler’s outstanding start as a rookie in Game 163 two years ago. May wasn’t up to that moment. (Buehler will get his chance at another one in Game 6.)

May lasted just two innings, fighting his way through heavy underbrush but giving up just a run in each inning. The Braves were in danger of breaking the game open in the third against Joe Kelly, though. Back-to-back singles were followed by a ground out to put runners at second and third for Dansby Swanson.

Swanson hit a sinking liner to right field that Mookie Betts charged, catching it at his shoe tops.

“It’s definitely a tough play,” Betts said. “A lot of it is instinctual. I just knew I needed to stay on my feet in order to get a throw off and have a chance at him at home. So my whole plan was to do whatever I can to stay on my feet.”

Betts’ throw home was too late to beat Marcell Ozuna, who had tagged up at third base.

Or not.

The Dodgers challenged the call and replay showed Ozuna drifting down the third-base line as Betts made the catch. Instead of a lead-expanding sacrifice fly for the Braves, the Dodgers had an inning-ending double play.

“That was a huge momentum twist for us,” Seager said. “It’s not always on the offensive side that you get a spark. A big play like that in a big moment, that changes everything for you.”

The Dodgers’ record 11-run first inning in Game 3 was sparked by an overturned call – allowing Betts to beat out a game-starting infield single. This one lit a slow-burning fuse.

Seager led off the fourth inning with a solo home run (one of his four in the series) but it wasn’t until the sixth that the Dodgers’ offense fully awakened.

Betts beat out another infield single to start it (no need for replay on this one). A two-out walk by Max Muncy put two runners on brought on the worlds-colliding matchup of Will Smiths.

“I mean, it’s a common enough name,” the Dodgers’ Will Smith said, admitting he knows at least three other Will Smiths – the famous one, another one he went to high school with and the one he faced at Globe Life Field.

“I’ll always bet on our Will Smith,” Roberts said.

One got ahead of the other, 0-and-2, but the younger Smith stayed disciplined, working the count full and then collecting his reward – a fastball down and in that he turned on.

“I was just trying to kind of push him out over (the plate), get a good pitch to hit, not let him bully me in there,” Smith said. “He made a mistake. I capitalized on it.”

The lead got bigger in the seventh when another replay overturn went the Dodgers’ way. Home plate umpire Dan Iassogna ruled Chris Taylor was hit by a pitch. The Braves challenged that one and it showed the pitch had hit Taylor’s bat.

So Taylor went back to the plate, doubled to left and scored on a single by Betts, all with two outs. Seager hit the next pitch for his second home run of the game and the margin for error in Roberts’ decision-making got a whole lot larger.

He had nine outs to get from a bullpen that allowed 15 runs in 15-2/3 innings over the first four games of this NLCS. The Braves got one more but the Dodgers closed it out the old-fashioned way – with Kenley Jansen recording the last three outs, all via strikeout.

“It’s win or go home. It’s simple,” Seager said of the Dodgers’ immediate future. “There’s no extra pressure. It is what it is. We know what’s at stake. Every game in any series, it’s winning that day. It’s not looking forward. It’s not looking to the next day. It’s about tomorrow and winning.”

Taylor injured his right ankle on a play in the eighth and will be re-evaluated Saturday.

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