The Boston Red Sox knew what was at stake entering their three-game series with the Kansas City Royals, and so did 29-year-old Dominic Smith.
Not known for speed on the base path, Smith took a chance in the top of the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium, bolting for home plate after Kansas City's Seth Lugo threw a wild pitch that slipped past catcher Salvador Perez. Smith, who stood feet away from the plate as Perez corralled the ball, dove head-first and (somehow) avoided Lugo's tag. Initially, Smith was called out at the plate but upon further review, the call was changed, giving the Red Sox a much-needed 4-3 lead over the Royals.
"I got a bad read on that, I gotta take off earlier. That's definitely on me," Smith said after Boston's 6-5 win on Tuesday night, as seen on NESN's postgame coverage. "Just trying to make a play. I saw that (Lugo) caught it early and he was trying to fiddle for the plate and I was trying to sneak a hand in there. I'm glad I got it in there though. ... I see these young guys make plays like that all year long. With (David Hamilton) and (Ceddanne Rafaela), just the speedsters, Jarren (Duran) too. Seeing them run around the bases puts a little pep in my step."
Boston needed every heroic ounce in Smith's tank, especially considering the stakes involved in the team's six-game road trip. The Red Sox and Royals are in the midst of a tug-of-war battle for the third and final wild card spot in the American League. Boston gained ground with its second straight victory in Kansas City, now sitting just a 1/2 game behind the Royals. Kansas City did fight back in the bottom of the eighth inning, pushing across two runs, however, had it not been for Smith's timely instincts and sneaky slide, the Red Sox could've easily found themselves back in the loss column with a rubber match scheduled for Wednesday night.
In real-time, the Red Sox dugout was more than confident that Smith had come through in the clutch, even if the eight-year veteran wasn't too sure of himself.
"We saw it. Dom wasn't too sure. He thought he was out," Red Sox manager Alex Cora recalled, as seen on NESN's postgame coverage. "... You kept looking and looking and it was like 'Man, he got it.' Hesitation on the ball, you don't wanna make the out at the plate but when you gotta go, you go. He's a good runner. The contact play, he did an amazing job early in the game. We needed every inch tonight and we got it."
