Smith's Decisive Homer
Pavin Smith's First Homerun Propels Diamondbacks to 4-3 Victory Over Angels
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Pavin Smith hit his first home run of the 2024 season — a solo shot that struck the right-field foul pole — to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Tuesday night at Chase Field in Phoenix, according to Associated Press.
Ryne Nelson held the Angels in check for six innings, and closer Paul Sewald finished the job in the ninth. The win pushed Arizona closer to the NL Wild Card and kept their battered roster fighting through a difficult stretch of the season.
Smith's Foul-Pole Homer Breaks the Tie in the Fifth
Pavin Smith had been recalled from Triple-A Reno earlier that day to fill holes caused by injuries. He made the call worthwhile fast. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Smith launched a solo home run — exit velocity 101.4 mph, traveling 348 feet — that caught the right-field foul pole by inches, according to Associated Press. Arizona led 4-3.
Smith called it a mix of skill and fortune. "It's always a good feeling to contribute right away," he said after the game. "Hitting the pole — it's a bit of luck, but it counts just the same." It was his first home run of the 2024 season.
Walker and Marte Provided Power Before Smith's Moment
Arizona got on the board early. Christian Walker hit a two-run home run — his 13th of the season — in the third inning to put the Diamondbacks up 2-0. The Angels fired back in the fourth. Zach Neto hit a two-run double, and Nolan Schanuel added an RBI single to give Los Angeles a 3-2 lead.
Ketel Marte answered immediately with a solo home run — also his 13th of the year — to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. That set the stage for Smith's go-ahead blast one inning later.
Nelson Goes Six Innings and Retires Ten Straight Batters
Nelson gave Arizona exactly what their tired bullpen needed. He pitched six innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits, striking out 6, and throwing 88 pitches. After the tough fourth inning, he retired 10 consecutive batters to finish his outing. Manager Torey Lovullo praised the effort, saying "Nelly was outstanding — he gave us length and stability after a tough fourth inning," according to Associated Press.
Because Nelson went deep into the game, Arizona's top relievers stayed fresh. Sewald, Ginkel, and Thompson were all available for the final games of the series. Sewald closed out the ninth for his sixth save of the season.
A Depth Player's Big Night Lifts Arizona's Wild Card Push
The Diamondbacks have dealt with a World Series hangover in 2024. Key players like Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Alek Thomas all missed time with injuries. Smith's return from Triple-A was seen as a stopgap move. Instead, it turned into a win that moved Arizona closer to the third NL Wild Card spot, according to Associated Press.
The Angels, now in their first full season without Shohei Ohtani, fell to 3-2 in the series opener. Angels manager Ron Washington kept it simple after the loss. "We had them where we wanted them after the fourth," he said, "but Smith's ball just caught the pole. That's baseball."
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