MIAMI -- For the second straight season, talented Brewers reliever Will Smith is stumbling to the finish line.
Smith surrendered a pair of run scoring hits during the Marlins' decisive, three-run seventh inning on Wednesday, leading to a 5-2 Brewers' loss and more head-scratching about the left-hander's troubles against left-handed hitters. Smith walked one, Dee Gordon, on four pitches before another, Christian Yelich, delivered a go-ahead, two-run double.
In 101 plate appearances this season, left-handers are batting .284 against Smith with 12 extra-base hits, including four home runs. Compare that to last season, when Smith faced left-handers in 106 plate appearances and they batted .