Will Smith’s late home run lifts Dodgers to season-opening sweep

The Dodgers have shown one thing in their opening three games of the season.

They have no problem erasing early deficits.

For a third-straight night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers found themselves in a two-run hole at the start of the game.

But for a third-straight night, they managed to rally behind strong pitching and timely offense, riding Will Smith’s go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth to a 3-2, sweep-clinching win.

Smith’s big swing almost felt kismet, coming on a night he celebrated both his 31st birthday and a bobblehead giveaway commemorating his game-winning, Game 7 World Series home run last year.

For much of the night, though, it seemed doubtful such late-inning heroics were coming for the Dodgers –– whose star-studded lineup once again waited until the end to come to life.

While Tyler Glasnow pitched well in his season debut –– allowing just two runs in six innings, while striking out six batters and retiring 10 of his final 11 –– Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez was better.

In five-plus strong frames, he limited the Dodgers to just a single unearned run; when Freddie Freeman doubled home Kyle Tucker in the sixth following an error to begin the inning.

After that, the Dodgers (3-0) struggled to crack the Dbacks bullpen, as well, making six-straight outs following Freeman’s double before Mookie Betts drew a walk with two outs in the eighth.

That, however, cracked the door just enough, with Smith sending an elevated 98 mph heater from Juan Morillo sailing out to straightaway center field in the next at-bat.

What it means

The Dodgers are hitting on all cylinders yet. But they’re doing just enough, with several little moments helping swing Saturday’s game.

There was Kyle Tucker robbing a home run in front of the short fence down the right-field corner in the sixth; then using his speed to set-up Freeman’s RBI double in the sixth by beating out a play at first and stealing second to get into scoring position.

There was Betts’ walk that set the stage for Smith’s winning blast, a four-pitch free pass that erased the frustration of his 0-for-3 night up to then.

And in the end, there was Edwin Díaz, completing a scoreless three-inning effort from the bullpen by collecting his second save in as many nights.

Who’s hot

Entering Saturday, Freeman didn’t have a hit yet –– despite nothing but hard-hit balls in his first two games (literally, each one had an exit velocity of at least 90 mph).

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That changed in a hurry, however, with Freeman singling his first two times up before getting the Dodgers on the board with his sixth-inning RBI double, smacking a ground ball just inside the third-base bag.

Alas, Freeman ended the night 3-for-4 after watching another fly ball die at the warning track, already the fifth time that happened this season. Still, he finally has some results to go along with what looks to be an in-sync swing.

Who’s not

It’s only a matter of time before Shohei Ohtani gets going.

But one series in, the four-time MVP has yet to really shine.

Ohtani has been on base plenty, already collecting four walks (including two free passes Saturday) and a hit-by-pitch. However, he hasn’t had a hit since a leadoff single Thursday. And in Saturday’s loss, he missed multiple chances to help start a rally, falling to 0-for-his-last-7 following a double-play in the fifth inning and a groundout to first to lead off the eighth. 

Up next

Thanks to the strange quirks of MLB’s staggered Opening Week schedule, the Dodgers will get a rare day off on Sunday, before hosting the Cleveland Guardians for a three-game series beginning Monday night. Roki Sasaki will start in that game, trying to reverse the fortunes of his disastrous spring training.