LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Conforto smacked a sharp drive to left with two outs in the eighth inning Thursday, and he celebrated at first base while Andy Pages scored the tiebreaking run for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The big hit ended up deciding the Dodgers' 6-5 victory over the New York Mets . Yet it was much bigger than that to Conforto, who had done almost nothing worth celebrating in his dismal first season with the defending World Series champions.

“It’s been a grind up to this point, and all I want to do is go up there and help us win,” Conforto said. “In a lot of those situations, I’ve come up short. To be able to come through today was everything.”

Up until that big moment, Conforto’s first season with the Dodgers had largely been a disaster.

The left fielder is batting .167

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