Introduction to the Game
The Dodgers’ Will Smith hits a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of their game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Calming Influence of Emmet Sheehan
Inserted into the fire immediately, Emmet Sheehan proved to be the calming influence the Dodgers were expecting. He just needed a little help in the form of five innings of relief from Justin Wrobleski and Will Smith’s pinch-hit, walk-off home run in the ninth inning for a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
The Game-Changing Home Run
Smith, who was given the night off from behind the plate, still managed to make it a full day’s work with one swing while pinch hitting for Kiké Hernandez. Smith’s eighth homer of the season gave the Dodgers their 25th comeback win of the season.
The Pitching Plan
With just two pitchers used on the night, the pitching path forward became a bit more clear with the Dodgers set to go with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Thursday, Clayton Kershaw on Friday against the Washington Nationals and then Dustin May on Saturday, followed by another short outing for Shohei Ohtani on Sunday.
Turning a Corner
After a somewhat inconsistent offense early in the season and injuries that put the pitching plan in disarray, the Dodgers appear to be turning a corner while on a five-game winning streak.
The Gauntlet
“This was sort of the gauntlet,” Roberts said about a 10-game run against the San Francisco Giants and Padres that ends Thursday. “We talked about it a couple weeks ago. And our guys rose to the occasion. And we’re playing much better baseball. Finding ways to win, and against division foes. So yeah, happy but we got one more, and I want to put these guys away.”
Sheehan’s Return
Sheehan was dropped into the third game of an already tense series and gave up one run over four innings in his return from Tommy John surgery. His healing properties started the Dodgers toward another long night for the Padres.
Wrobleski’s Relief
There to back him up was Wrobleski (2-2), who pitched four scoreless innings before the Padres tied it in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Jake Cronenworth and an RBI double from Xander Bogaerts.
The Dodgers’ Winning Streak
The Dodgers have now won five of six games against the Padres in a stretch where the National League rivals are facing each other seven times in 11 days. On Thursday, they have a chance at a rare four-game sweep.
Conclusion
The Dodgers’ win over the Padres marked a significant turning point in their season, with the team showing resilience and determination in the face of adversity. With their pitching plan starting to take shape and their offense finding its rhythm, the Dodgers are poised to make a strong push for the playoffs.
FAQs
Q: Who hit the walk-off home run for the Dodgers?
A: Will Smith hit the walk-off home run for the Dodgers.
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The final score was 4-3 in favor of the Dodgers.
Q: Who pitched for the Dodgers in the game?
A: Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski pitched for the Dodgers.
Q: What is the Dodgers’ current winning streak?
A: The Dodgers are on a five-game winning streak.
Q: Who is the Dodgers’ next opponent?
A: The Dodgers’ next opponent is the Washington Nationals.
