ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Diamondbacks’ Pavin Smith hits 3 home runs in win vs. Astros

Sep 8, 2024, 5:47 PM | Updated: 7:34 pm

Pavin Smith #26 of the Arizona Diamondbacks is congratulated by Josh Bell #36, and Jake McCarthy #3...

Pavin Smith #26 of the Arizona Diamondbacks is congratulated by Josh Bell #36, and Jake McCarthy #31 after a grand slam in the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on September 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Pavin Smith hit three home runs in his first three at-bats during the team’s 12-6 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

In the second inning, Smith took Astros starter Justin Verlander deep with a three-run shot off the foul pole that scored outfielder Jake McCarthy and third baseman Eugenio Suarez to put the Diamondbacks up 3-0.

Then during his next at-bat, Smith sent a four-seam fastball 372 feet to the left field seats for a grand slam that scored first baseman Josh Bell alongside McCarthy and Suarez.

In the fifth inning, Smith went yard off Astros pitcher Kaleb Ort for his third home run of the game, a 393-foot solo shot.


Verlander exited after the third inning. The three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed eight earned runs on eight hits and threw 75 pitches (46 strikes).

The Diamondbacks led 9-2 after five innings and Smith had eight of the team’s nine RBIs.

Smith’s seven RBIs were a Diamondbacks’ record for the first three innings of a game.

He also became the ninth player in franchise history to record at least seven RBIs in a game, and the first since Eduardo Escobar did so on May 15, 2021 against the Washington Nationals.

The Diamondbacks’ record for most RBIs in a game came on May 17, 2002 when Erubiel Durazo had nine. Smith and Chris Iannetta have the second most in a game with eight. Iannetta tallied eight on Sept. 22, 2017 against the Miami Marlins.

Smith has played in 44 games for the D-backs this season and is hitting .270 with 26 RBIs, seven homers and five doubles.

He also hit a walk-off homer against the San Francisco Giants in a 4-2 victory on June 3.

Arizona tacked on one run in each of the final three innings with a sacrifice fly from infielder Luis Guillorme in the seventh inning, an RBI-single from McCarthy in the eighth and a home run from Suarez in the ninth. D-backs starter Ryne Nelson allowed five runs in 4.2 innings.

Arizona gets Monday off before hosting the Texas Rangers at Chase Field for a two-game set starting Tuesday. Following the series against the Rangers, the Diamondbacks will host the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

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