Smith produces Fisher Cats' late show

Dwight Smith needed only two innings to do some serious work on Wednesday night.

The Blue Jays' No. 28 prospect homered twice and collected a career-high six RBIs to power Double-A New Hampshire to a 14-3 victory over visiting Hartford.

Smith, who also scored three runs, did not pick up his first hit until the seventh inning. But it was a big one as he sent a grand slam over the right field wall at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium to cap a six-run outburst and extend the Fisher Cats' lead to 12-2.

"There were no out and I was trying to get a good pitch to hit and hit it somewhere in the outfield," the 23-year-old outfielder said. "Then I got two strikes quick, so I was trying to get a good pitch to hit and put it in play and not strike out in that situation. I just happen to put a good swing on a slider and it went out."

An inning later, Smith did it again, blasting a two-run shot to right to cap his second two-homer game of the season and surpass his previous personal best of four RBIs, set on April 10 against Binghamton.

"I was just looking to get a good pitch to hit again," he said. "I was trying not to do too much. I fouled a fastball back and I got a changeup and I waited on it and put a good swing on it again."

The Georgia native has enjoyed a strong second season in the Eastern League, already equaling last year's total with seven homers and surpassing it with 46 RBIs. Smith sports a .268/.323/.423 slash line in 68 games.

"It feels great," he said. "I definitely worked hard in the offseason to come out here and do what I was capable of and put together a good year and help the team I was on in any way that I could."

Smith said he was happiest at being able to contribute in a way that helped the Fisher Cats end a four-game losing streak.

"I feel great and it feels better because we finally got a win after going through a losing skid," the 2011 first-round pick said. "That's the main thing: we got one today against a good team."

Blue Jays No. 8 prospect Rowdy Tellez also homered and Jorge Flores drove in three runs for New Hampshire.

Fisher Cats starter Luis Santos improved to 5-1 after allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning seven over seven innings.

Raimel Tapia, the Rockies' No. 6 prospect, was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Yard Goats.