Just in time for Ozuna's first return visit with Pirates, Smith shows Braves found another strong DH

Before Ozuna's first at-bat in the Braves' 6-3 win over Pittsburgh on Friday night, Ozuna tipped his batting helmet to the fans and put his hand over his heart in his response to the loud ovation.

Smith showed in the Braves' 6-3 win on Saturday that Atlanta continues to enjoy strong production at designated hitter. Smith lined an opposite-field two-run homer toe highlight the Braves' three-run fifth inning.

Smith, 30, also had a single and is hitting .309 with six homers and 28 RBIs. He already has his most homers since hitting six for Boston and Cincinnati in 2024.

The left-handed hitting Smith initially thought his liner might fall for a single or even fade foul. Instead the shot stayed fair and found the left-field seats.

“I really wanted to focus on getting a good pitch to hit and just hit a line drive and not try to do too much,” Smith said. “And when I hit it, I’m like, all right, get down, get out.”

Smith said he put better contact on a long fly ball to center field in the third inning that Oneil Cruz caught in front of the wall. In his next at-bat, Smith lined the homer on a swing designed just to drive in Matt Olson from third base.

“It's one of those funny moments,” Smith said. “I hit one hard to center field that gets caught and hit one that seemingly should have been a single and it goes out. So yeah, I’m just very blessed and very happy, and like I said, this team is just fun."

Braves manager Walt Weiss said Smith “is in a really good place. He's got a plan and you can see it and he executes it. He's been great for us.”

Weiss said the fans' ovation for Ozuna in the opening game of the series was memorable.

“I thought it was great last night, that ovation he got,” Weiss said. “It got stronger and stronger as time went on before the at-bat. People started to realize what was going on, and it was a great ovation. I mean, he’s beloved here. He was the ultimate teammate, a fun guy to be around. So that was a feel-good moment seeing that ovation for him.”

Brandon Lowe was the Pirates' designated hitter on Saturday.

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Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Marcell Ozuna acknowledges applause by Atlanta Braves fans during his first at-bat against the Braves during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Marcell Ozuna acknowledges applause by Atlanta Braves fans during his first at-bat against the Braves during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Dominic Smith, left, reacts with teammate Mike Yastrzemski, right, after the Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz catches a fly ball hit by Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Dominic Smith, left, reacts with teammate Mike Yastrzemski, right, after the Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Light-hitting catcher Freddy Fermin launched his first homer this season to lift the San Diego Padres over the New York Mets 3-2 on Saturday night, snapping a six-game losing streak.

Fermin was hitless in his previous 30 at-bats before his two-run shot off reliever Austin Warren (1-2) in the seventh inning.

That nullified a fine performance by Mets rookie Nolan McLean, who allowed one run on three hits and three walks in six innings.

New York had two on and one out in the eighth when Juan Soto scorched a line drive to second baseman Sung-Mun Song. He snagged it and then flipped the ball to shortstop Xander Bogaerts to double off Carson Benge at second base.

Bradgley Rodriguez (1-2) worked the seventh and got the win despite giving up Marcus Semien's tiebreaking solo homer. Mason Miller pitched a hitless ninth for his 18th save.

Padres starter Griffin Canning tossed five innings against his former team. He yielded one run and three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Semien broke a 1-all tie in the seventh when he sent Rodriguez’s first pitch over the left-field wall. Earlier in the game, Seimen snapped an 0-for-14 skid with a single.

The Padres squandered a chance in the fifth with shoddy baserunning. Song and Fernando Tatis Jr. singled, putting runners at the corners with two outs.

Tatis broke for second on a steal attempt, which drew a fake throw from Luis Torrens. The catcher then wheeled and fired to third, where Song had bit on the deception and was retired in a rundown.

San Diego manufactured a run to tie the score in the third. Song opened with a walk, stole second and scored when Tatis’ grounder up the middle ricocheted off second base into shallow right field for an RBI single.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the second on Brett Baty’s two-out RBI single.

Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (5-3, 3.31 ERA) starts Sunday in the series finale. RHP Huascar Brazobán (3-1, 2.25 ERA) will be New York's opener, with LHP Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.08) expected to pitch in bulk relief.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean winds up against a San Diego Padres batter in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Mason Miller, right, celebrates with Freddy Fermin after the team defeated the New York Mets in a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Freddy Fermin, center, celebrates with Fernando Tatis Jr. after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Freddy Fermin reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Freddy Fermin celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)