Smith HR, 6 RBIs, leads Kershaw, Dodgers over Nationals 9-3
WASHINGTON — Rookie catcher Will Smith homered and drove in six runs, leading Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Washington Nationals 9-3 on Saturday.
Playing in his 10th major league game, Smith homered in the third inning, hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth, doubled home a run in the sixth, and broke the game open in the seventh with a bases-loaded double off the wall in left-center.
Kershaw (9-2) settled in after allowing two first-inning runs, giving up three hits while striking out nine with three walks through the sixth.
Yan Gomes homered for Washington, which has lost three straight for first time since a five-game skid May 19-23.
The Nationals employed an opener for the first time, with left-hander Matt Grace retiring all six Dodgers he faced, including four left-handed batters. Righthander Joe Ross (0-3) allowed a homer to the first batter he faced and gave up seven runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Max Muncy and Corey Seager had two hits each for the Dodgers and Muncy scored three runs.
The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the first on Adam Eaton’s RBI triple and Juan Soto’s sacrifice fly. Smith’s homer in the third made it 2-1. Muncy’s RBI single tied the game in the fourth and the Dodgers took the lead on Seager’s double. He went to third on an error and it was 4-2 after Smith’s sacrifice fly.
Smith is the first Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-present) rookie catcher with a six-RBI game, surpassing Mike Piazza’s previous high of five in a game (twice, the last on June 22, 1993).