Game 5 of the NLCS created quite the stir when Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith came up to bat in the sixth inning.
Awaiting him on the mound was none other than Atlanta Braves reliever Will Smith. It was the first time in MLB playoff history that a pitcher-batter matchup featured two players with the same name, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
The Dodgers' Will Smith won, launching a three-run homer to put L.A. ahead in the elimination contest. Will Smith's homer off Will Smith marked the first time in the expansion era (since 1961) that a batter homered off a pitcher with the same name, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Will Smith vs. Will Smith.
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020
Advantage, Will Smith. 😱 pic.twitter.com/RxjuhY5hek
Naturally, social media went crazy at the sight of this rare phenomenon.
It’s happening!!! pic.twitter.com/ovR84neg57
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) October 17, 2020
Will Smith at home watching Will Smith pitch to Will Smith pic.twitter.com/IwwXS24EJ4
— Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) October 17, 2020
Happy for Will Smith, devastated for Will Smith
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) October 17, 2020
Good job by Will Smith against Will Smith. ... Also, bad job by Will Smith against Will Smith.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) October 17, 2020
Will Smith homers off the newly-named Won't Smith
— Kyle Maskson (@KyleAMadson) October 17, 2020
Isnt this the plot of Gemini Man? https://t.co/pRwSa4URfy
— Tangotiger (@tangotiger) October 17, 2020
My heart goes out to all the non-baseball fans seeing Will Smith trend in a minute because Will Smith just homered off Will Smith, neither of whom is Will Smith
— ℳatt (@matttomic) October 17, 2020
After Will Smith took Will Smith yard Justin Turner said “tell him cool name, nerd” pic.twitter.com/vD902Opih3
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) October 17, 2020
#Dodgers Dave Roberts on the worlds-colliding matchup of Will Smiths: "I'll always bet on our Will Smith."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 17, 2020
