Will Smith's big birthday blast powers Dodgers to sweep of Arizona
Key Points:
- Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a crucial two-run home run in the eighth inning on his 31st birthday and bobblehead night, leading the Dodgers to a 3-2 win and a season-opening series sweep against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- Manager Dave Roberts initially planned to rest Smith but changed his mind after seeing the bobblehead tribute, also adjusting the lineup to have Smith bat fourth against left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez.
- Tyler Glasnow delivered a strong pitching performance with six strikeouts over six innings, supported by a scoreless bullpen from Alex Vesia, Will Klein, and Edwin Díaz, who entered to live trumpet music for the second consecutive night.
- Freddie Freeman broke out offensively with three hits, including a key RBI double, helping the Dodgers overcome early deficits in all three games of the series.
- Injured Dodgers players Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández are progressing well in their recoveries and are expected to be available by the end of May, with Hernández showing promising signs of readiness.