Pavin Smith put on a show on Sunday, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a decisive 12-6 victory over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The outfielder was virtually unstoppable, blasting three home runs in five at-bats and driving in a remarkable eight runs in the six-run win.
The onslaught began in the second inning when Smith launched a three-run homer off the right field foul pole, giving the Diamondbacks an early 3-0 lead. In the third inning, with the bases loaded, Smith crushed a grand slam to deep left field, extending the lead to 8-0 and accounting for seven of the team’s eight runs.
Smith continued his hot streak in the fifth inning, belting his longest home run of the night just shy of 400 feet to right field, adding another run for Arizona. Despite slowing down towards the end of the game, Smith’s performance was nothing short of spectacular.
Meanwhile, Eugenio Suárez also had a standout game, contributing four hits, four runs, and a home run in the ninth inning, bringing his season total to 26.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Smith had only four home runs on the season with a .247 batting average and 18 RBI. However, his incredible performance against the Astros not only matched his previous season’s home run total but also brought him closer to his career-high set in 2021.
The victory ended a three-game losing streak for the Diamondbacks, who now boast an impressive 80-64 record. They are currently just half a game behind the San Diego Padres for second place in the NL West and the top NL wild-card spot, solidifying their position in the playoff race.