Two months after getting cut, Pavin Smith’s game-ending homer gives D-backs playoff hope

Phoenix (AP) — Pavin Smith, who had been sidelined for two months due to bone spurs in his elbow, delivered a game-winning, two-run homer in the ninth inning, giving the Arizona Diamondbacks a crucial 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees. The hit came as Pavin pinch-hit, stealing the spotlight for the team's playoff aspirations.

At the time of his selection with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft, Smith had been a mixed bag with the D-backs, posting a .241 career batting average and a .0 wins above replacement value. His journey back to form began in early June following surgery, but he struggled initially. He was then designated for assignment in July after posting a .141 average.

Despite the odds, Smith found his footing again, and Saturday's heroics at Chase Field, with a season-high 47,918 fans in attendance for the team's 25th anniversary celebration of their 2001 World Series win, seemed like a culmination of his resilience. The manager, Torey Lovullo, credited the presence of franchise legends in the crowd for adding to the playoff-like atmosphere.