ATLANTA (AP) — Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith's mother died less than two weeks ago. He said the team has picked him up the last few weeks, and he returned the favor Saturday night.
Smith became the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a new team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He finished off the Braves' six-run ninth inning in a 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.
“It’s just amazing,” said Smith, who was one of the last players to make the Braves' opening day roster. “Played against the Braves for a long time, and being on the other side a lot of these endings kind of hurt, so to be on the right side of it this time was so fun.”
Smith told reporters after the game the Braves had been very supportive during spring training when his mother was ill. She was diagnosed with cancer in September and almost died at the start of camp. Smith said he left the team for a little over a week when she had a "scare," and returned because he was fighting for a job. He was not with her in California when she passed away.
“This team is just so awesome,” Smith said. “I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support every day. They’re asking about her, asking about her well-being, my well-being, and that’s all they really cared about. They didn’t care about baseball.”
Smith was able to show his thanks in the ninth inning off Royals closer Carlos Estévez, who led MLB in saves last season with 42. The Braves erased a 2-0 deficit on RBI singles by Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Harris II and had the bases loaded with one out. On a 3-2 pitch, after calling timeout to gather himself, Smith lifted a fly ball into the right field seats that sent the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.
Smith said he felt his mom's presence in the celebration, and he looking forward to the Braves road trip to Anaheim next week where he will be able to see family and “say his goodbyes.”
“I got choked up a bunch of times, and it’s, you know, I’m trying to hold back tears now,” he said. “I feel her every day. I miss her dearly. It’s not a moment I don’t think about her. And like I said, I’m just so thankful because this team knows what I’m going through. So they really, you know, picked me up the last few weeks.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
The Atlanta Braves celebrate at home plate after a walkoff grand slam from Dominic Smith, center, in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
The Denver Summit and the Washington Spirit played to a scoreless draw on Saturday before a record National Women's Soccer League crowd of 63,004 fans at the home of the NFL's Denver Broncos.
In other action around the league, the Utah Royals held on for a 2-1 victory over the Boston Legacy; and the Portland Thorns downed the Kansas City Current 2-0; the Seattle Reign beat Racing Louisville 2-1 in Spokane, Washington; Bay FC dominated the North Carolina Courage on the road 3-1; and the San Diego Wave defeated the visiting Chicago Stars 2-0.
The Summit (1-1-2) broke the NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last season in a Bay FC match at San Francisco's Oracle Park.
Denver goalkeeper Abby Smith and Spirit counterpart Sandy MacIver each made two saves to preserve their clean sheets. It was Smith's second straight shutout.
The Spirit (0-1-3) have yet to win this season.
Olivia Moultrie converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute and the Thorns went on to defeat the Current 2-0 at Providence Park in Portland.
Moultrie, 20, became the youngest player to score 20 league goals, breaking Sam Kerr’s record set in 2016.
Reilyn Turner added a goal for the Thorns (3-1-0) in the 63rd minute.
The Current (1-3-0) continue to struggle without two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga, who is out for the season with a hip injury.
Thorns forward Sophia Wilson made her first start of the season in her return from maternity leave.
Tatumn Milazzo returned from a one-game red card suspension to score her second goal of the season and help the Royals beat the winless Legacy.
Milazzo scored on a tap-in in the 33rd minute to give Utah (1-2-1) the lead. Mina Tanaka drew a penalty in the 49th minute and Lara Prasnikar converted to go up 2-0.
Aissata Traoré scored in the 72nd minute to close the gap for Boston (0-3-0).
Maddie Mercado and Nérilia Mondésir scored first-half goals to lead the Seattle Reign (3-1-0) to another win at One Spokane Stadium.
In the 10th minute, Mercado scored for the second consecutive game. Initially, her shot was saved by Racing Louisville goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer, but it slipped through her hands and rolled into the goal.
Mondésir added a goal in the 42nd minute for her first of the season.
Late in second half stoppage time, Louisville rookie Macy Blackburn scored her first professional goal to close the margin.
Louisville (0-2-1) has allowed two goals this season.
Bay FC (2-0-1) had three first-half goals to hand the Courage (1-1-1) their first loss of the season.
Alex Pfeiffer opened the scoring in the 20th minute on a left-footed shot past Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Keira Barry scored her first NWSL goal to double the lead 2-0 in the 30th.
Dorian Bailey headed home the third goal in the 34th minute, with an assist from Pfeiffer.
Manaka Matsukubo scored in the 65th.
It was Bay’s first road win since a 1-0 victory over North Carolina last April 19, which was their only victory away from home last season.
Rookie Lia Godfrey scored for the third straight game to give the San Diego Wave (3-1-0) their third straight win.
San Diego outshot the Stars 12-0 and had 60% possession in the first half.
Godfrey opened the scoring in the 56th minute
Melanie Barcenas came in as a sub in the 62nd minute and scored 10 minutes later.
The Stars (1-3-0) did not record their first shot until the 70th minute.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Washington Spirit forward Claudia Martinez, left, heads the ball as Denver Summit FC midfielder Devin Lynch, front right, and defender Megan Reid cover in the second half of an NWSL soccer match, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Summit FC forward Melissa Kossler, right, tries to head the ball into the net as Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan covers in the second half of an NWSL soccer match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Summit FC forward Yazmeen Ryan, right, drives past Washington Spirit defender Lucia Di Guglielmo in the second half of an NWSL soccer match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
