Will Smith takes Will Smith deep, a breakdown
What Happened
In the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2021 National League Championship Series, the Atlanta Braves lead the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 and are just ten outs away from clinching a trip to the World Series. On the mound for the Dodgers is relief pitcher Will Smith, a 31-year-old right-hander in his eighth Major League season. In the batter's box is another Will Smith - the Dodgers' 25-year-old catcher Will Smith, in his second big league campaign. This matchup between two players with the same name is a historic first in the postseason. Will Smith the pitcher works carefully, starting Will Smith the hitter off with a curveball that misses outside for a ball. The next pitch is an inside fastball that catches the edge of the strike zone, drawing an unhappy reaction from Will Smith at the plate. With the count 0-2, Will Smith the pitcher tries to bust his namesake inside again, but the umpire doesn't give him the call, much to Will Smith the hitter's delight. The 0-2 offering is another quality pitch on the inner half and the umpire makes the tough decision to call it a ball, evening the count at 2-2. Will Smith the pitcher goes back to his breaking ball, but Will Smith the hitter is ready, fouling it straight back. The tension builds as the at-bat reaches a full 3-2 count. Will Smith the pitcher appears to signal to his teammate for help, perhaps a plan to try and get the hitter to chase. But Will Smith the hitter jumps all over the next pitch, a 93 mph fastball that catches too much of the plate, crushing it deep over the wall in left-center field. "Will Smith takes Will Smith deep!" the announcer exclaims, as Mookie Betts and the Dodgers dugout erupt in celebration. Will Smith the hitter, while clearly pleased with the go-ahead homer, shows a hint of remorse for having to beat his fellow namesake. Nevertheless, the Dodgers have taken the lead and they go on to win the game and eventually the World Series, turning the tide of the series.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentwe're at game five of the nlcs atlanta
leads
three to one and they lead this game two
to one and they're ten ounce away from
going to the world series and
on the mound is will smith from georgia
aged 31 his eighth season his middle
name
is michael in the box we have will
smith from kentucky 25 years old in his
second season and his middle name is
dills
will dills smith so the match-up
everyone was waiting for two outs two on
first pitch little outside curve ball
for will
smith will smith down 0-1 next pitch
busts him in with the fastball gets the
call
will smith doesn't like it but will
smith also enjoys it
first time two players with the same
name have faced each other in the
postseason
thank you very much mlb for that fun
fact o2 pitch for will smith
tries to bust him inside again doesn't
get the call will smith is happy about
that
actually a fantastic o2 pitch in my own
opinion because
very similar to the 01 pitch that got
called to strike
but a little more inside because you
don't want to give him something over
the heart of the plate o2
the ump's got to make a tough call he's
got to make a tough take
i like it i like it here it is inside
will smith takes it
will smith doesn't get the call one and
two goes in there again this time high
that's the ball
two two will smith thinking pondering
okay i'm in this thing
will smith delivers goes back to a
little breaking ball
spits all over it now the count is full
and he thinks let me get some of that
sticky to help me out here
this is a big moment he sends the signal
to turner
i'm going to try and hit a home run
turner sends it to muncie monty says oh
[ __ ] okay
cool this guy's nervous he might have
seen the signal he knows what's about to
happen 3-2 pitch fastball
low this time and will smith crushes it
and will smith is not excited because
the game
now belongs to the dodgers mookie likes
it he's clapping the [ __ ] go
big high fives and arlington hits home
plate
gives the dodgers the lead beats up
muncie a little bit
get out of here i got to do a handshake
with jt putting this game in our rear
view
love it i mean you know thinking about
this now this kind of
changed the series a whole bunch huh
they didn't show him
throw the bat let's go
turner and then he does have a moment
here where he's like damn
hate that i had to do that to him he's
kind of just like sitting in the dog
oh [ __ ] okay that's not a good look will
smith on will smith crime
and then my favorite thing about catcher
is just straight to the gear
back to the battle station back talking
with the coach getting the scouting
report for the next innings hitters
gotta go back to work meanwhile will
smith not excited about it atlanta goes
on to lose
the game and the next game and then
the next one and then the dodgers won
the world series this breakdown is
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thank you to the will smithers will
smith
will dills smith