Local Smith makes debut
Ex-columbia High standout strikes out in Toronto at-bat
Former Columbia High baseball star Kevin Smith made his big-league debut on Wednesday in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 8-5 loss at the Washington Nationals.
Smith, an infielder, came in as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and struck out swinging against Nationals reliever Andres Machado.
He was promoted to the major leagues when the Toronto Blue Jays selected his contract from the Triple-a Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday.
Smith wore No. 66. Efforts to reach him before the game were unsuccessful.
A fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLB draft, Smith was batting. 286 for Buffalo with 19 homers and 63 RBI.
Smith was a first-time all-state selection at Columbia High and the Times Union 2014 Athlete of the Year. He played three seasons at the University of Maryland before being drafted by the Blue Jays.
Josh Bell hit a three-run homer off former teammate Brad Hand to help the Nationals to the win.
Rockies 7, Padres 5: Jake Arrieta got clobbered by Colorado and left with an injury in his San Diego debut. C.J. Cron had two hits and three RBIS and Trevor Story homered for the Rockies, who scored five runs in 3 1⁄3 innings against Arrieta before he departed with an injured left hamstring.
Twins 8, Indians 7 (11): Jorge Polanco drove in the game-ending run for the third time in four games, lining a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning, and Minnesota beat Cleveland. The Twins survived after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth and nearly won it in the 10th.
Cubs 7, Reds 1: Michael Hermosillo homered for the first time since 2018, Ian Happ and Sergio Alcantara also went deep, and depleted Chicago beat Cincinnati.
Angels 3, Tigers 1: Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th homer and pitched eight sharp innings, helping Los Angeles beat Miguel Cabrera and Detroit. The crowd of 27,282 was hoping to see Cabrera hit his 500th career homer, but the slugger went 1 for 4 with a first-inning single.
Rays 8, Orioles 4: Ryan Yarbrough came off the COVID-19 injured list and worked five scoreless innings as AL East-leading Tampa Bay handed Baltimore its 14th consecutive loss.