Dodgers’ Will Smith Doubles in Ninth to Deliver Thrilling Comeback, Sealing Game‑Winning Run in Rally Against Reds

The Los Angeles Dodgers engineered a classic late‑game comeback on Tuesday night in Cincinnati, overcoming a 4–2 deficit to walk away with a 5–4 win over the Reds. The hero: catcher Will Smith, whose two‑out, two‑run double in the bottom of the ninth drove in James Outman with the go‑ahead run. His clutch knock handed the Dodgers the lead and ultimately the victory, capping a dramatic rally that underscored both his poise under pressure and the team’s never‑say‑die spirit .

Smith finished the night 2‑for‑5 at the plate with two RBIs, serving as the catalyst for Los Angeles’ ninth‑inning magic. After working the count full against Reds reliever Emilio Pagan, Smith lined a pitch into left field, plating Outman (who had drawn a walk and advanced to scoring position) to put the Dodgers in front with two outs in the frame .

Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo had dazzled over the first five and a third innings, striking out a season‑high 11 batters—including Shohei Ohtani three times—and cruising with a 1.89 ERA through July until surrendering the lead. On the mound until the sixth, Lodolo looked destined for a win before the Dodgers’ rally began to take shape .

In the seventh, reliever Graham Ashcraft entered in relief of Lodolo but immediately surrendered a pair of key hits: two‑out RBI singles from Will Smith and Freddie Freeman cut into the Reds’ 4–2 lead, tying the ballgame and swinging momentum in L.A.’s favor . Freeman’s continued excellence, combined with Smith’s timely hitting, set the stage for the ninth‑inning heroics.

The bullpen settled thereafter: Alexis Diaz earned his first win of the season working 1⅓ scoreless innings, and Alex Vesia locked down his fourth save in five chances, sealing the 5–4 Dodgers win with a clean ninth .

The scoring opened in the second inning when Dodgers utilityman Tommy Edman clubbed his 12th homer of the season to give L.A. a 2–0 lead. But the Reds quickly responded in the fourth: Jake Fraley crushed a two‑run homer and Noelvi Marte added a solo shot to put Cincinnati on top, making it 3–2. That lead stood until the late rally began unfolding .

Will Smith’s double—his second RBI of the night—not only delivered the decisive blow but also illustrated his growing clutch reputation. While not overpowering in average or power, his ability to deliver when the stakes are highest continues to serve as a huge asset to the Dodgers’ lineup. His two RBIs tonight represent exactly that kind of timely impact .

Ohtani, while suppressed by Lodolo early, had tried to spark the offense, but struggled to make consistent contact. Lodolo’s strikeouts of Ohtani—three times in the outing—undercut one of the Dodgers’ most feared bats and emphasized his dominance early in the game .

On the Cincinnati side, Lodolo’s Herculean strikeout performance was overshadowed by the bullpen’s inability to maintain the lead. Despite his season‑best outing, the Reds failed to hold serve once the Dodgers began chipping away. Ashcraft’s two two‑out hits allowed and Pagan’s inability to close out the ninth became painful turning points .

Los Angeles starter Tyler Glasnow had a rocky night as well. Charged with four runs on four hits across four innings, Glasnow walked five and struck out just three, failing to provide length and giving the Reds too much early control. Cincinnati jumped on him early with the Fraley and Marte homers to take their initial lead .

With the win, the Dodgers improved their record in Cincinnati and extended their resilience in close games. This win follows Monday night’s dominant showing by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who struck out nine over seven innings in a 5‑2 win—marking back‑to‑back impressive performances in a short road trip .

From the moment Tommy Edman launched his early homer to the chaos of the Reds’ bullpen, to Freeman’s game‑tying single in the seventh, and finally Will Smith’s game‑winning double in the ninth, Los Angeles manufactured its comeback piece by piece. The late rally was a testament to timely hitting, reliever execution, and veteran composure in high‑leverage moments.

For the Dodgers, the win highlighted once more their depth and ability to fight back even when trailing late. As for Will Smith, his latest hero moment adds to an increasingly impressive string of clutch contributions—especially notable given his strong yet sometimes streaky season. His two‑hit, two‑RBI evening was the turning point in a tight game that could have gone either way.

In the larger picture, the Dodgers will aim to build on the momentum from this comeback as they continue their road trip. Turning deficits into wins on the road is the hallmark of a championship‑driven club, and tonight’s performance showcased both grit and timely execution.

Meanwhile, the Reds will rue missed opportunities. Lodolo’s brilliance was undone by a bullpen that relinquished the lead, and despite strong starts in back‑to‑back games, the team couldn’t close it out. Holding leads has been a challenge — one that now puts another loss on the ledger after falling to the Dodgers twice already this series.

In sum: with two outs in the ninth, Will Smith calmly laced a double to left, delivering the go‑ahead run and capping off a textbook Dodger comeback. From Edman’s early homer to Lodolo’s dazzling start—only to be undone later—the pieces aligned for Los Angeles in the quintessential late‑game rally.

Friday’s outing may not go down in history alongside his three‑homer game last year, but tonight, in the pressure cooker of a ninth inning, Will Smith delivered when it mattered most.