#Mets’ Dominic Smith fine after crashing into wall, lobbies to keep DH

WASHINGTON — Dominic Smith was shaken, but not enough to consider an early exit from Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader.

After face-planting the left-field fence in the fifth inning on Andrew Stevenson’s flyball that became a game-tying, inside-the-park homer, Smith insisted he remain on the field.

“There was no way any manager, coach or staff was going to pull me out of that game,” Smith said after the Mets lost 4-3 and 5-3 to the Nationals, noting he passed concussion protocol.

Smith said he is fine physically.

In a season in which he shuffled between left field, first base and designated hitter, Smith is aware it’s possible the DH won’t stick in the National League next year, limiting his options. If the DH is eliminated, Pete Alonso would likely take the majority of playing time at first base, with Smith in left field.

“I haven’t put too much thought into it,” Smith said. “I’m going to go into the offseason and work my butt off like I do every year. I’m going to try to come in, and like I said last year, show them I can play all three outfield spots. Obviously I still have to work on my footspeed and range — it’s a little bit of stretch to do all that — but it’s just one of my goals, to be a complete player and a better player.”

Smith, who owns a team-best .993 OPS, would like to think the DH will remain in the NL. The issue will be resolved by MLB and the Players Association before next season.

“I would love [the DH],” Smith said. “The 14 other National League teams, I am sure those teams would agree. Just to insert another bench guy into the lineup every day, giving 15 more guys an everyday job, and just being able to rotate some guys off, giving them a day off like that and have a DH day, I loved it and felt it kept a lot of us fresh and I don’t see why we shouldn’t adopt it the rest of the time. I hope we keep it and that’s a position that I like.”

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Dellin Betances pitched a scoreless fifth inning in Game 2, in his first appearance since returning from the injured list. After missing three-plus weeks with a strained right lat, Betances had his top fastball velocity of the season, hitting 96 mph.

“It’s the best I have been in a couple of years,” said Betances, who holds a player option on returning to the team next season that the Mets can buy out for $3 million.