Will Smith got his first career hit in his 357th MLB game, and it was a big one. The Giants were in a tight spot late in the game. In the bottom of the eighth, they gave up a run on a sac fly to tie it up. Kevin Pillar answered with a triple, and after an intentional walk to Brandon Crawford, the Giants retook the lead. That set the stage for Smith, the closer, to potentially seal the win — but first, he stepped into the batter’s box for the first time in his career.
With two runners on, Smith worked the count to 3-1. He knew a fastball was coming and decided to go for it. He connected, shooting a single into right field. Bryce Harper fielded it cleanly, but both runners scored. Two RBIs for a career .000 hitter. Stephen Vogt made sure the ball was saved, and Smith couldn’t stop smiling. Even the coaches were joking around trying to track down the ball.
Smith’s hit was a double on the throw, and he got to run the bases like a position player. He reached third standing and chatted with the third-base coach, who he admitted he’d never worked with before. For a guy known only for pitching, this moment stood out. It may have taken 357 games, but he made it count.