Birthday Night + Bobblehead Night: Smith's Go-Ahead Home Run Rewrites the Script

Birthday, bobblehead, home run—for Will Smith, this was undoubtedly a night worth celebrating.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' star catcher blasted a go-ahead two-run homer on his 31st birthday, helping the team defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3–2 and complete a three-game sweep to start the season. It was also Smith's bobblehead night, aptly commemorating his go-ahead home run in Game 7 of the World Series last November.

In all three victories against the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers came from behind. The offense described by manager Dave Roberts as "relentless" in the opener stepped up at crucial moments throughout the series, with Smith playing the hero in the finale.

The Dodgers were scoreless through the first five innings until Freddie Freeman's double in the sixth brought Kyle Tucker home, tying the game at 1–2. Two innings later, with two outs and a runner on first, Smith stepped up to the plate. On the seventh pitch from reliever Juan Morillo, Smith launched a four-seam fastball 414 feet into the center-field stands, with an exit velocity of 105.1 mph. This home run gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game, which they never relinquished. Closer Edwin Díaz sealed the win, securing his second save wearing Dodger blue.