Will Smith

Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Thursday against the Giants, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Barnes, who was giving Will Smith a breather in this one, belted a 399-foot (98.6-mph EV) leadoff homer off of Kutter Crawford to open the fifth inning -- the fourth of five home runs that the Dodgers would hit off of the Red Sox' right-hander. The 34-year-old backstop finished the night 1-for-3 and is now hitting .261/.330/.318 with one homer and seven RBI on the season.

It looks to be nothing more than a routine night off for the hard-hitting backstop. Austin Barnes will start in his place behind the dish and will bat ninth against Kutter Crawford and the Red Sox on Sunday evening in Los Angeles.

This month has been a grind for the Dodgers, but they're off and running after the All-Star break with late-game heroics. The latest heroes: Kik Hern ndez and Will Smith.

Kik Hern ndez forces extra innings and keeps the game alive in the 10th before Will Smith caps the Dodgers' 7-6 win over the Red Sox in the 11th.