Pavin Smith's pinch-hit, walk-off homer lifts D-backs over Yankees

Sports admin September 20, 2026 0 Comments

Pavin Smith’s pinch-hit, walk-off homer lifts D-backs over Yankees

Pinch-hitter Pavin Smith hit a two-run walk-off homer with one out in the ninth and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees 5-3 Saturday in Phoenix on a night the franchise celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 2001 World Series victory.

Ildemaro Vargas walked to lead off the ninth off Michael Fulmer (0-1), reaching base after he appealed the 3-2 pitch that originally was called a strike. After a strikeout, Smith hit a 389-foot homer to right center for the D-backs’ 46th comeback win of the season

Heliot Ramos and Austin Wells hit bases-empty homers for the Yankees, who had won four of five and eight of 10. Wells and Jose Caballero had two hits apiece.

Nolan Arenado had two hits and Jordan Lawlar added a two-run triple for the D-backs, who had lost three in a row and five of six.

The Yankees (89-65), who have clinched a playoff berth, fell five games behind Tampa Bay (94-60) in the AL East and remained 5 1/2 games ahead of Boston (84-71) for the top AL wild card spot. The Yankees and Rays play a four-game series in Yankee Stadium beginning with a split doubleheader Tuesday.

The D-backs (81-74) gained a game on Philadelphia (85-70) for the third spot in the National League wild-card race but are still four games back with seven games to play.

Yankees starter and American League Cy Young candidate Cam Schlittler gave up three hits and three runs (one earned) in six innings, leaving when his pitch count reached 98. His season high is 106.

Schlittler struck out three and walked six while lowering his ERA to an American League-leading 1.94. He has given up one earned run or fewer in each of his last eight starts.

Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt gave up four singles and one run in 4 1/3 innings, leaving after the Yankees loaded the bases on three singles in the fifth. Ben Rice hit a sacrifice fly off Justin Martinez to break a scoreless tie. Pfaadt struck out three and walked one.

The D-backs broke up Schlittler’s no-hitter with a two-run fifth. Both runs scored after Schlittler’s one-out fielding error.

Arenado had Arizona’s first hit, a line single to left field with one out, before Tim Tawa pushed a bunt toward the mound. Schlittler could not field the ball cleanly and both runners were safe.

Lawlar lined a two-out triple to left-center on a 99 mph fastball for a 2-1 lead.

Ramos and Wells homered in the sixth to put the Yankees in front 3-2.

The D-backs tied it in the sixth 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 hit a sacrifice fly before Schlittler struck out Arenado and Tawa with runners on second and third.

–Field Level Media

This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 12:04 AM.