Smith homers 3 times, Freeman singles in the go-ahead runs in 8th and Dodgers beat Brewers 8-5

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Will Smith homered three times, Freddie Freeman singled in the go-ahead runs with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied past the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 on Friday night.

Smith became the fourth catcher in Dodgers history to have a three-homer game, the first of his career. The others are Yasmani Grandal (2016), as well as Hall of Famers Mike Piazza (1996) and Roy Campanella (1950).

“Those are obviously really good catchers,” Smith said. “Just to be mentioned is humbling.”

Smith now has 14 homers this season.

“What a night!” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the matchup of NL division leaders.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani struck out three times on his 30th birthday and is 0 for 11 — including six consecutive punchouts — since the second inning of Wednesday’s loss against Arizona.

But he moved two runners into scoring position with a groundout to first with the game tied 5-5 in the eighth. Miguel Vargas singled off Brewers reliever Elvis Peguero (5-3), who walked Chris Taylor and Smith to load the bases.

Freeman singled to center, scoring Vargas and Taylor for a 7-5 lead. Teoscar Hernández followed with a double to left to make it 8-5.

“Credit to the Dodgers, credit to Freddie,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He's done it in the clutch so many times.”

Daniel Hudson (6-1) got the win in relief and Evan Phillips struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 14th save.

Milwaukee's Rhys Hoskins hit a grand slam in the fourth, but the Dodgers avoided their third loss in a row.

Smith's third homer, off reliever Bryan Hudson, tied the game 5-all in the seventh.

“Going to right-center field, then to go to left field and then hit one off the foul pole, really impressive,” Roberts said. “He's just so consistent and he just doesn't get the recognition that he deserves as being one of the top two catchers in the game.”

Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow opened with three perfect innings and then five of the next six batters reached base. Willy Adames drove in the Brewers' first run with an opposite-field single. Glasnow then walked Garrett Mitchell to load the bases and set up Hoskins' second slam of the season.

“Tyler was great all night outside of that inning,” Roberts said.

A fan caught the ball right above the glove of center fielder Andy Pages. It happened so quickly that the baserunners didn't immediately react and the umpires didn't signal either. The fan threw the ball back onto the field and the Brewers took a 5-2 lead.

“The timing was a little weird, not executing and falling behind,” Glasnow said of his lone poor inning.

Glasnow retired the side in four of the first five innings. It would have been five of six innings but second baseman Gavin Lux bobbled a grounder by Mitchell for an error with two outs in the sixth.

“He called a really good game,” Glasnow said of Smith. “The offense obviously helped and is the reason we won.”

The Dodgers closed to 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth on Vargas' two-run homer.

They led 2-0 on solo shots by Smith off starter Aaron Civale, making his Brewers debut two days after being acquired from Tampa Bay.

“He's been quietly one of the engines that run the ship over there that's been pretty successful,” Murphy said of Smith.

Civale allowed four runs and five hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked three.

Glasnow gave up five runs and three hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: OF Jason Heyward (left knee bone bruise) went on the IL after chasing a home run by Arizona's Joc Pederson on Thursday. An MRI didn't show any serious damage.

UP NEXT

Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (6-4, 3.83 ERA) opposes Dodgers LHP James Paxton (7-2, 4.28) Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith, left, is congratulated by Teoscar Hernández after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman hits a two RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith, right, hits a solo home run as Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Aaron Civale, left, and catcher William Contreras, second from left, watch along with home plate umpire Brian Walsh during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Aaron Civale throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell watches a ball hit b y Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith go out for a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins, center, is congratulated by William Contreras, right, Garrett Mitchell, left, Willy Adames, second from left, and Sal Frelick after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, runs his fingers through his hair in the dugout as his interpreter Will Ireton stands by prior to a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins, left, heads to first for a grand slam as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow watches during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins hits a grand slam during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Aces guard Tiffany Hayes earned the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award Friday, the league announced.

Hayes received 38 of 67 votes from a national media panel. New York's Leonie Fiebich finished second with 21 votes. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough of Washington and Marina Mabrey of Connecticut were the next two in the voting.

It’s the fifth time in the past six seasons that a Las Vegas player has won the award.

In her 12th WNBA season and first with the Aces, Hayes played in 33 of Las Vegas’ 40 regular-season games, coming off the bench a career-high 28 times and starting five games. To be eligible for the award, a player must come off the bench in more games then they start.

Hayes averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists this season. She also made 40% of her 3-point attempts. She joined the Aces a few weeks into the season six months after she had announced her retirement from the WNBA.

Hayes received the award on the court before the the Aces played the Liberty in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

New York Liberty's Courtney Vandersloot (22) shoots over Las Vegas Aces' Tiffany Hayes (15) during the first half of a WNBA basketball semifinal game, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Las Vegas Aces' Tiffany Hayes (15) passes away from New York Liberty's Courtney Vandersloot (22) during the second half of a WNBA basketball semifinal game, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York. The Liberty won 88-84. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)