Smith's HR in 10th lifts Dodgers past Mets 6-5

NEW YORK (AP) — Will Smith hit a two-run homer to start the 10th inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back after blowing a four-run lead to beat the New York Mets 6-5 Friday night.

Smith gave the Dodgers a 6-4 advantage when he hit a full-count sinker from Jeurys Familia (6-3) into the left field seats. Smith’s 16th homer easily cleared the fence and set Los Angeles up for its second win in 14 extra-inning games this year.

“I was trying to hit a ball up in the air, center, right-center and move the guy over,” said Smith, who is 6 for 11 in his career in extra innings. “Just situational hitting. It crept in a little bit and I just turned on it and still got it in the air.”

It was Smith’s first career homer in extra innings and ended Los Angeles’ 11-game losing streak in extra-inning games. It also lifted Los Angeles to its 14th win in 34 one-run games this year.

“We checked a couple of boxes off,” Los Anageles manager Dave Roberts said.

Smith’s drive atoned for a passed ball the catcher committed in the seventh that allowed Pete Alonso to score the tying run.

“I’m just confident with Will, I really am,” Roberts said. “You’ve seen it time and time again, the pulse, the heartbeat. He stays in the strike zone, doesn’t run from it. You’re not going to be successful every time but you can just tell when a player embraces those moments."

The Mets began a stretch of 13 straight games against talented NL West teams Los Angeles and San Francisco by losing for the eighth time in 12 games. New York also dropped to 1-11 in its last 12 home games against Los Angeles.

“We were right there, had the winning run at the plate the last inning,” New York second baseman Jeff McNeil said. “So we were right there.”

Los Angeles...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Smith-s-HR-in-10th-lifts-Dodgers-past-Mets-6-5-16386584.php