D-backs’ Pavin Smith responds to ‘overrated’ chant with go-ahead homer
May 4, 2022, 2:06 PM | Updated: 2:11 pm
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ early morning game against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday was certainly an interesting one to say the least.
Madison Bumgarner kicked things off with an ejection after arguing with an umpire between the first and second inning, turning things over to the bullpen for a full eight frames.
Luckily for Arizona, outfielder and Florida native Pavin Smith was there to be the perfect bookend on a weird day of baseball, roping a two-run shot in the ninth inning to give Arizona an 8-7 victory over Miami.
The best part? During Smith’s at-bat, Marlins fans could be heard chanting “overrated” before Smith pummeled the baseball.
🔊 Some fans chanted "overrated" right before Pavin Smith's at-bat.
And then what happened? pic.twitter.com/fjbt3ycA1D
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 4, 2022
You better believe he heard the chatter.
“It’s nice to pick up the pitching staff because they’ve picked us up so much all year,” Smith told Bally Sports Arizona after the game. “Made it extra sweet too … hearing some overrated chants from right field during that at-bat.”
After watching their one-run lead turn into a one-run deficit in the eighth inning, the D-backs had just three outs to mount a comeback.
Facing one out in the ninth, outfielder Daulton Varsho got aboard with a single to left.
That paved the way for Smith.
Battling a 2-2 count, Smith unloaded on one, smoking an 83-mph slider 379 feet into the stands to flip the score back in their favor, 8-7.
Arizona now sits at 13-13 after sweeping the three-game series over Miami. The D-backs are off Thursday before resuming play Friday against the Colorado Rockies.
