During Friday’s Home Opener at Dodger Stadium, there was so much going on that it’s actually difficult to pick only one thing to write about. There were the emotional tributes to Tommy Lasorda and Don Sutton, the World Series ring ceremony, the raising of the World Series banner, Keith Williams once again singing our National Anthem as only he can, and a military flyover that put (another) lump in the throat of every American at the stadium or watching on television.

And then, of course, there was the game itself; arguably the single best-played game of the young season by both the Dodgers and the Washington Nationals, with the obvious play of the game being Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner‘s solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning – the only run of the game in a pitching duel that you might expect in the postseason.

But overshadowed by all of the pregame pomp and circumstance and Turner’s game-winning home run was an under-the-radar play which, if not (rightfully) overturned upon video review, could have changed the outcome of the eventual 1-0 Dodgers win.

With two outs in the top of the fourth inning and speedy Nationals right fielder Juan Soto on first base, having reached on a single to right, Soto attempted to steal second base off of Dodgers catcher Will Smith on a 1-1 count to Nationals third baseman Starlin Castro.

Soto was initially called safe by second base umpire Adrian Johnson, prompting Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux to immediately look towards the Dodgers dugout and indicate that they needed to challenge the call, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and bench coach Bob Geren did. It didn’t take long for replay officials in New York to confirm that Lux had indeed tagged Soto before his left hand had touched second base, and the call was overturned.

Smith and Lux also caught Nationals center fielder Victor Robles attempting to steal second base with one out in the top of the eighth inning after Robles reached on a bunt single to Turner.

For those unfamiliar with the dynamic duo of Gavin Lux and Will Smith, they were both drafted by the Dodgers in the first round in 2016; Lux as the 20th overall pick out of Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, WI, and Smith as the 32nd overall pick out of the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. As such, they frequently played together down on the farm, with Smith making his MLB debut on May 28, 2019, and Lux on September 2, 2019.

Following Friday’s win, Smith was asked during his postgame Zoom media interview about his connection with Lux and their two crucial caught-stealing plays.

“Luxie, we’ve played together a little bit now, and we just developed together,” Smith answered. “He’s kind of on the page. He knows where he needs to be, he’s early to second base, and yeah, two good throws got ’em today.”

And then there’s the other side of the ball. In his 18 at-bats thus far in the 2021 season, Smith has five hits (.278), with two home runs and four RBIs. In his 27 at-bats this season, Lux has eight hits (.296), with two triples and three RBIs.

…a dynamic duo indeed.

Play Ball!

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