A familiar combo — clutch Will Smith and a comeback win for the Dodgers
by Megan Garcia
If it’s been clutch this season, it has often been Will Smith for the Dodgers.
He was that again on Tuesday in Cincinnati.
The Dodger catcher’s two-hit, two-RBI night in the Dodgers’ 5–4 victory on Tuesday helped give the Dodgers their 37th comeback win of the season — the most in Major League Baseball.
Smith has been among the best hitters in baseball in 2025. His .325 batting average ranks second in Major League Baseball. His .366 average with runners on base ranks first in the Majors.
Smith cut the Reds’ lead to 4–3 in the seventh inning on a two-out single. He gave the Dodgers a 5–4 lead in the ninth on a two-out double.
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“He has a great way of controlling the strike zone, not chasing and knows how to get a base hit,” said manager Dave Roberts. “I think sometimes people expand their swing, get too big in the moment, and Will just checks down and puts the barrel to it.”
Michael Conforto’s leadoff walk in the ninth was pivotal for Smith’s go-ahead RBI double. The 10-pitch at-bat is tied for his longest plate appearance this season. Conforto was replaced by pinch-runner James Outman, who scored from first on the double.
Tommy Edman’s two-run homer in the second knocked in the Dodgers’ first runs. The Dodgers trailed Cincinnati 4–2 after the Reds scored four runs against Tyler Glasnow in four-plus innings — including three in the fourth.
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Smith and Freddie Freeman tied the score in the seventh with a pair of RBI singles. Freeman went 3-for-5 on Tuesday. It was his third multi-hit game in the second half.
“That second hit against (Reds starter Nick) Lodolo was pretty impressive. That’s vintage Freddie,” Roberts said. “I think he’s been working on trying to find a cue and working hard. He looked really good tonight.”
This was Glasnow’s shortest start since his return from the injured list on July 9. The right-hander battled command issues throughout and tied a season high with five walks.
However, five Dodgers relievers combined to quiet the Reds in the final five innings.
His command was an issue through his four innings pitched. His five walks and four hits given up matched a season high.
Alex Vesia earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning. The Dodgers’ last four wins have had four different pitchers earn a save — Kirby Yates, Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer and now Vesia.
Muncy Closer to Returning
Max Muncy went 0-for-3 in a rehab assignment tonight with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He struck out twice and hit a fly out to center field.
He played six innings at third base for the Comets. Muncy is getting closer to rejoining the Dodgers after he sustained a left knee bone bruise on July 2.
A familiar combo — clutch Will Smith and a comeback win for the Dodgers was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.