Pavin Smith's Walk-Off Blast Lifts D-backs Over Yankees

Pinch-hitter Pavin Smith hit a two-run walk-off home run with one out in the ninth inning Saturday night, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-3 win over the New York Yankees in Phoenix. The dramatic finish landed on the same night the franchise celebrated the 25th anniversary of its 2001 World Series championship.

Ildemaro Vargas opened the ninth with a walk off reliever Michael Fulmer, getting aboard after appealing a full-count pitch that had originally been called a strike. One out later, Pavin Smith connected and sent the ball 389 feet into the right-center field seats. The home run gave Arizona its 46th comeback win of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak.

The home run was the second walk-off of Pavin Smith's career and Arizona's sixth walk-off homer of the season, a franchise record and the most in the majors, according to azcentral. The moment capped an unlikely personal comeback: Smith opened the season expected to be a main option at designated hitter with some time at first base, but he landed on the injured list for elbow surgery. After returning in June he struggled at the plate, was designated for assignment, and was outrighted to Triple-A Reno before being recalled last week. "Anytime you're coming off the bench, I feel like you want to be aggressive, you don't want to just get in a hole," Smith told azcentral after the game.

A back-and-forth night in Phoenix

The game stayed scoreless until the fifth inning. Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt gave up four singles and one run over 4 1/3 innings before departing with the bases loaded in the fifth. Ben Rice broke the tie with a sacrifice fly off Justin Martinez, putting New York ahead 1-0.

The Diamondbacks had no hits against Yankees starter Cam Schlittler until the bottom of the fifth. Nolan Arenado opened the inning with a line single to left, and Tim Tawa pushed a bunt toward the mound. Schlittler could not field it cleanly, leaving both runners safe, and Jordan Lawlar followed with a two-out triple to left-center on a 99 mph fastball to give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

New York answered in the sixth. Heliot Ramos and Austin Wells each hit solo home runs, putting the Yankees back in front 3-2. Arizona responded in the bottom half when Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno drew four-pitch walks and Geraldo Perdomo beat out a two-strike bunt single to load the bases. Corbin Carroll tied the game with a sacrifice fly, but Schlittler struck out Arenado and Tawa with runners on second and third to limit the damage.

Schlittler sharp again in a losing effort

Schlittler, a leading candidate for the American League Cy Young award, allowed three hits and three runs, only one of them earned, over six innings before leaving with his pitch count at 98. His season high is 106. The right-hander struck out three and walked six while lowering his ERA to an AL-leading 1.94. He has now given up one earned run or fewer in each of his last eight starts.

Wells and Jose Caballero had two hits apiece for the Yankees, who had won four of five and eight of their last ten games before Saturday. Arenado added two hits for the Diamondbacks.

Playoff race tightens for both teams

The Yankees, who have already clinched a playoff berth, fell five games behind Tampa Bay in the American League East. The Rays, at 94-60, walked off Boston 2-1 earlier Saturday. New York remained five and a half games ahead of the Red Sox for the top AL wild-card spot. The Yankees and Rays open a four-game series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, starting with a split doubleheader.

The Diamondbacks, now 81-74, gained a game on Philadelphia for the third National League wild-card spot but still sit four games back with seven games left to play. Arizona had lost three in a row and five of six before Saturday's win.

Smith's walk-off also gave the home crowd an extra reason to celebrate on the anniversary night. Twenty-five years after Arizona won the 2001 World Series, the current club delivered the kind of late-inning comeback that defined that era of Diamondbacks baseball.

According to Reuters, the Diamondbacks' 46 comeback wins rank among the most in the majors this season, a habit they will need down the stretch as they chase the Phillies for the final NL playoff spot.

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