What happened: Will Smith drove a clutch sixth-inning hit to put his club ahead in National League Championship Series action. The timely swing turned a one-run deficit into a 2-1 advantage entering the late innings.

Why it matters: Postseason momentum hinges on middle-inning execution against playoff pitching, and Will Smith's two-run double flipped control of the contest. Producing in high-leverage October spots shifts bullpen deployment for the final three frames.

What to watch: Late-inning relief arms now take over to protect the one-run margin through the final nine outs of the NLCS matchup.