Hernandez, Smith power Dodgers to 7-6 win over Red Sox in 11 innings
LOS ANGELES — Will Smith singled with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th inning to score Kiké Hernández as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 7-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
Smith hit a home run to center field off Greg Weissert (2-2) to give the Dodgers the win.
“The whole game was really close. It was fun to win,” Smith said. “I was just trying to hit a pitch and get away.”
Hernández was the automatic runner on second base in the top of the 11th inning. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Cavan Biggio. Chris Taylor walked and Shohei Ohtani intentionally walked to set the stage for Smith, who delivered the sixth hit of his career and first since 2022.
“They don’t want Shohei to beat them, so tonight was Will’s opportunity. I feel as comfortable with any of those guys at bat when the game is on the line. It was a huge win,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Hernández, who entered in the seventh inning, kept the Dodgers alive twice. He tied it at 4-4 in the ninth inning with a solo home run to left-center field off former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
It was Jansen’s first home run this season.
“He gave me a hit to handle and I didn’t miss. I was able to make contact and after that it was just compete mode,” said Hernández, who celebrated 10 years of MLB service on Saturday.
Hernández then tied it 6-6 in the 10th with a hit up the middle to score Andy Pages, whose one-out double brought home automatic runner Freddie Freeman.
Blake Treinen (3-2) got the win, retiring Boston in order in the 11th.
Tyler O’Neill hit a pair of two-run homers for the Red Sox, who had won six straight games decided by one run.
With Jarren Duran as the automatic runner in the 10th, O’Neill’s two-run home run off Evan Phillips in the top of the inning gave the Red Sox designated hitter his third multi-homer game of the season.
O’Neill gave Boston a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning with a two-run homer into the Dodgers’ bullpen in left field. It was the fifth time in his seven-year career that he had at least four RBIs in a game.
“He took some good at-bats. That’s what he does,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He’s not going to be 100 percent every day. We know that, but in the batter’s box, he’s a game-changer. He had an outstanding game.”
Duran drove in the Red Sox’s next two runs in the fifth with a double over the right-center wall.
Bryan Bello allowed three runs on five hits and struck out seven in six innings. It was the seventh straight game a Boston starter has gone at least six innings, his longest streak since an eight-game stretch in 2018.
Gavin Lux also hit a home run for Los Angeles with a solo shot just over the fence in right-center field in the second.
Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski didn’t allow a run in 4 1/3 innings and struck out five batters.
WEB GEM
O’Neill’s first home run canceled out a great play by James Outman. The Dodgers center fielder caught Rob Refsnyder’s fly ball and held on to it as he crashed into the wall for the first out in the seventh inning.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Red Sox: 2B Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester.
Dodgers: Right-handed relief pitcher Tyler Glasnow (lower back tightness) is set to come off the injured list Wednesday.
FOLLOWING
Boston right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford (6-7, 3.04 ERA) will take the mound in the final series. Los Angeles will choose left-handed pitcher James Paxton (7-2, 4.38 ERA).
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