Silencing the raucous Philly crowd, the Los Angeles Dodgers snatched a 5-3 win at Citizens Bank Park. Thanks in part to their $66 million veteran outfielder. While he had a big swing that put the Dodgers on top, he’s also the same guy who made the Phillies howl with glee over his lackadaisical defensive play. We can’t say it’s a new issue with the 32-year-old. It was just last month when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts criticized him for his poor defense. Back then, he stated, “There’s no other way to put it,” and later admitted that Teoscar Hernandez “has to get better out there.”

Even today, after taking a lazy route on J.T. Realmuto’s hit to right field, the veteran outfielder let the Phillies clear the bases in the second inning. He made up for it in the seventh inning when he crushed a go-ahead three-run home run. However, it was only natural for Dave Roberts, who has now seen multiple lapses from the outfielder, to address his outing in the postgame media availability.

“I’ve got to look at it again. I would argue that he wasn’t not trying. But yeah, that’s a ball that you don’t want Realmuto to have a triple. It’s certainly a short right field,” he said. With Brandon Marsh on first base and Alex Bohm on second, Realmuto turned on a 100 mph fastball from Shohei Ohtani.

He then hit it to the right field; that’s where Hernandez failed to hustle. The $66 million start’s misplay allowed the ball to roll all the way back to the right-field wall, where center fielder Andy Pages eventually tracked it down.

After the game, Teoscar Hernández shared his take, too: “I was playing straight in. I didn’t get a good angle. He hit it pretty good. I tried to get it so he can’t go all the way to third, or they can score two runs in that situation. It went by me.” Well, it’s the postseason, and Hernandez’s defense is still an issue, and it cost the Dodgers a valuable run on Saturday.

They still managed to secure the win, but on Monday, they can’t afford such lapses. Well, if their catcher is nearing his return, the Dodgers can probably get some extra help to secure the second game as well.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith could be available for NLDS Game 2

Will Smith, the Dodgers’ All-Star catcher, appeared in his first game action since September 9. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Smith entered in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter. Smith remained in as a catcher and ended the night going 0-for-2 with a hit by pitch and one run scored.

He had suffered a hand fracture back in early September. He was also on the active 26-man roster for the Wild Card round, but he did not play. During the pregame availability, manager Roberts indicated that Smith will enter to “get his feet wet” after being on the sidelines for so long. And that’s exactly what happened on Saturday. Now, importantly, is there a possibility that he could enter Game 2 and play the whole nine innings?

“Still up in the air. We might run the same playbook, or we could start him. But I think for me, just kind of seeing how he comes in tomorrow [will determine my decision],” Roberts said.

Smith himself spoke about his progress: “It’s definitely still rehabbing on the hand, but definitely making sure the shoulder is not getting banged up, the hips, the legs, all that, just kind of getting my feet back under me.” Well, the Dodgers are naturally going to be cautious about his return. If he’s not in the lineup for Game 2, catcher Ben Rortvedt will get another start behind home plate. And like Saturday, Smith could enter the game as a pinch hitter later.