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Will Smith's 1st Home Run Lifts Dodgers Over Phillies 4-3

June 2, 2019 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS Philadelphia

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Will Smith is making himself at home during his first week in the major leagues. The red-headed rookie — called up when catcher Austin Barnes got hurt — hit a towering, tiebreaking home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 4-3 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.

"That was awesome," Smith said. "I'll remember that forever."

The unflappable Smith caught ace Clayton Kershaw for seven innings and then smashed his first career homer into the left field pavilion off Hèctor Neris (1-2).

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 01: Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is doused with a bucket of water by teammates Cody Bellinger #35 and Joc Pederson #31 after Smith hit a walk-off homerun in the ninth inning of the MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 4-3. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

"A lot of tough pitches and Will stuck with it," third baseman Max Muncy said. "I still don't know if he knows he hit a home run."

Smith got doused by his teammates on the field and he got the ball, too. The man who nabbed it turned it over to Smith outside the Dodgers clubhouse and they posed for a photo together.

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It was a fitting finish for the catcher whose walk-up music is the theme from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," the hit 1990s sitcom in which the main character played by the actor Will Smith moves from Philly to the ritzy enclave in Los Angeles.

"A lot of fun to see Will do that at the end," Kershaw said. "Will just oozes professionalism. It just seems like he's been here a long time."

Actually, Smith arrived last Monday when Barnes went on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain. He's certainly making a strong case for himself even though his stay in the big leagues could be short.

"I'm just coming every day and giving my best effort," Smith said. "The rest will take care of itself."

He earned a ringing endorsement from Kershaw, who said, "A lot of talent and there's a lot of potential there for sure."

Julio Urias (3-2) got the victory with two innings of relief after giving up a two-run homer to Bryce Harper in the eighth that tied it at 3-all in a matchup of division leaders and the two best teams in the National League.

The Dodgers have won 14 of 17; the Phillies lost their third in a row.

"This is a really disappointing loss," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "Neris has been a stud and Smith put a good swing on a split at the bottom of the zone and that happens sometimes."

David Freese homered into the left-field pavilion on the first pitch from Cole Irvin leading off the fifth, putting the Dodgers in front 2-1.

Philadelphia tied the game at 1 in the fourth on J.T. Realmuto's RBI single.

Harper, who was 0 for 4 in Friday's opener, singled, took second on a wild pitch by Clayton Kershaw and moved to third on an error by Muncy. Rhys Hoskins was safe at first on the error to set up Realmuto.

The Dodgers added a run in the bottom of the inning on Muncy's sacrifice fly that scored pinch-hitter Matt Beaty, who reached on an infield single to first base.

Kershaw allowed one run and six hits, struck out six and walked none.

Josè Àlvarez started for the Phillies in place of Zach Eflin, who went on the IL Friday with mid-back tightness. Àlvarez gave up one hit and two walks in two innings.