Pavin Smith’s two-run walk-off home run caps a dramatic night at Chase Field as Arizona celebrates 25 years since its first World Series championship.
Twenty-five years after the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees in a dramatic World Series finale, Chase Field once again provided a stage for a memorable moment between the two franchises.
On Saturday night, the D-backs celebrated the 25th anniversary of their historic 2001 World Series championship by welcoming back members of that championship team, including former players and coaches. The celebration then carried into a tense, back-and-forth game against the Yankees that ultimately ended with another walk-off victory.
Pavin Smith delivered the storybook ending, launching a two-run home run to right-center field in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Arizona to a 5-3 victory.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak and kept the D-backs’ postseason hopes alive with seven games remaining. Arizona moved within four games of Philadelphia for the final National League wild-card spot.
A quiet start gives way to a tense battle
Both starting pitchers settled into the game early.
D-backs starter Brandon Pfaadt kept the Yankees scoreless through the first four innings, limiting New York’s opportunities and keeping Arizona within striking distance.
Yankees starter Cam Schlittler was equally effective, working through the early innings and keeping the D-backs’ offense quiet.
The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning.
Anthony Volpe opened the inning with a single before Ryan McMahon reached on a fielder’s choice. José Caballero followed with a single to center field, loading the bases and ending Pfaadt’s night.
Pfaadt finished with 4⅓ innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three.
Justin Martinez entered in relief, but the Yankees finally broke through.
Ben Rice lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Volpe to score and giving New York a 1-0 lead.
Lawlar answers for Arizona
The D-backs responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning.
Nolan Arenado reached on a single, and a throwing error by Schlittler on Tim Tawa’s bunt put runners at first and second.
After Jesús Sánchez grounded out and the runners advanced, Jordan Lawlar stepped to the plate with two outs.
Lawlar delivered.
The young outfielder ripped a triple into left-center field, scoring Arenado and Tawa and putting Arizona ahead 2-1.
The lead, however, would not last long.
Yankees regain the lead
The Yankees answered with two solo home runs in the sixth inning.
Heliot Ramos opened the scoring with a home run to tie the game at 2-2.
Two batters later, Austin Wells launched a solo homer to right field, putting New York back in front 3-2.
But the D-backs again had an answer.
Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno opened the bottom of the sixth with walks, putting two runners aboard. Geraldo Perdomo reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, loading the bases with nobody out.
Corbin Carroll followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Marte to score and tying the game 3-3.
Arizona could not push another run across, but the tie kept the game within reach.
D-backs bullpen keeps the game alive
With the score tied, Arizona’s bullpen took over.
Brandyn Garcia entered in the seventh and helped prevent the Yankees from regaining the lead. Garcia recorded two outs before Juan Morillo entered in the eighth and quickly finished the inning.
Morillo then returned for the ninth and kept New York off the scoreboard, setting the stage for the D-backs’ final opportunity.
Neither team could break the tie in the seventh or eighth innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, Moreno singled and Arenado followed with a single, but Arizona could not capitalize.
The game remained tied at 3-3 heading into the ninth.
A storybook ending
The celebration of the 2001 championship had begun with a look back at the franchise’s history.
The ninth inning gave the current Diamondbacks an opportunity to create a moment of their own.
Ildemaro Vargas came off the bench to lead off the inning and drew a walk after winning an ABS challenge on a full-count pitch that was initially called a strike. Jordan Lawlar then struck out, bringing Smith to the plate as a pinch hitter.
Smith didn’t need much time.
He drove a cutter from Yankees reliever Michael Fulmer into the right-field seats, scoring Vargas and giving Arizona a 5-3 walk-off victory.
The celebration that began by honoring the Diamondbacks’ past suddenly became a celebration of the present.
Smith’s home run echoed the franchise’s history — particularly Luis Gonzalez’s famous walk-off hit against the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
“It was a playoff atmosphere,” Smith said. “Every pitch felt like it mattered more and to pull it out in the end feels good.”
‘Maybe there was a little bit of magic’
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo recognized the significance of the night and the effort it took for his team to come back against the Yankees.
“Maybe there was a little bit of magic in the rafters,” Lovullo said following the game.
Lovullo also praised Smith and the team for continuing to fight despite the challenges of the season.
“Great moment for Pavin Smith and the team. They are fighting with everything they have … it’s very inspiring. I couldn’t be more proud,” Lovullo said.
Smith’s walk-off also gave the D-backs their 46th comeback victory of the season.
The manager acknowledged that Arizona’s backs are against the wall in the National League wild-card race and accepted responsibility for the team’s struggles while crediting his players for their successes.
“We knew it was going to be a tough night, we wanted to make everyone proud and I think we did that tonight,” Lovullo said.
For Smith, the moment carried even more meaning given the atmosphere surrounding the game.
“It was a special night,” Pfaadt said, reflecting on the championship celebration and the dramatic finish. “From the ceremonies to the walk-off hit — it was pretty ironic.”
The night also provided a fitting connection to the franchise’s history.
“Gonzo hit a walk-off about 25 years ago and to be able to do it on the celebration night is pretty cool,” Smith said.
A night to remember
The Diamondbacks entered Saturday’s game fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive.
They left Chase Field with a victory that will be remembered for more than its impact on the standings.
The 2001 championship team was honored. The Yankees returned to the stadium where Arizona captured its first World Series title against them. And the current D-backs produced a walk-off finish of their own.
Twenty-five years after Arizona’s first World Series championship, Chase Field once again connected generations of Diamondbacks baseball.
The past was celebrated.
The present delivered.
Wild-card race
The D-backs improved to 81-74 with the victory and remain in the National League wild-card race.
Arizona moved within four games of Philadelphia for the final NL wild-card spot with seven games remaining.
Up next
The D-backs and Yankees conclude their three-game series Sunday, Sept. 20, at Chase Field.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. MST. ♦︎
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