Pavin Smith's 2-run, game-winning homer lifts D-backs over Yankees 5-3, helps slim playoff hopes

PHOENIX (AP) — Pavin Smith hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks over the New York Yankees 5-3 on Saturday night, giving the D-backs' slim playoff hopes a boost.

Ildemaro Vargas started the ninth with a walk, winning an ABS challenge on a full-count pitch initially called a strike. After Jordan Lawlar struck out, Smith pinch hit and drove a cutter from Michael Fulmer (0-1) into the right-field seats.

Arizona pulled within four games of Philadelphia for the final NL wild card with seven games remaining, snapping a three-game losing streak on a night the franchise celebrated the 25th anniversary of its 2001 World Series win over the Yankees.

Juan Morillo (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings. D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings, striking out three.

New York's 11 walk-off losses are one behind San Francisco, which has the most in the major leagues.

New York ace Cam Schlittler gave up three runs — but only one earned — over six innings. The right-hander allowed three hits and three walks, striking out six and lowering his ERA to 1.94.

Schlitter’s 24 starts with one or no earned runs this year is one shy of the record in the live-ball era since 1920, set by Sandy Koufax in 1963, according to Major League Baseball.

The All-Star didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning when Nolan Arenado lined a one-out single into left field. The right-hander then made a costly error on Tim Tawa's sacrifice bunt attempt, dropping the ball as he tried to throw to first. Jordan Lawlar capitalized on the miscue with a two-out triple into the left-center field gap for a 2-1 lead.

Austin Wells and Heliot Ramos hit solo homers off Kevin Ginkel in the sixth to push the Yankees ahead 3-2.

Corbin Carroll hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom half but Schlittler limited damage by striking out Arenado and Tawa to end the threat.

1. Arizona RHP Corbin Burnes (0-0, 5.87 ERA) and Yankees RHP Will Warren (10-6, 3.89) start Sunday.

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Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees fans wait for the ballpark gates to open prior to a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

New York Yankees Cam Schlittler pitches during the first inning during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

New York Yankees José Caballero (72) hits during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Lars Nootbaar hits during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Richie Palacios dropped a fly ball into shallow right in the ninth inning to score Junior Caminero and give the Tampa Bay Rays a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Tampa Bay, which has three walk-off wins on its current homestand, opened a five-game lead over the second-place New York Yankees in the AL East.

Prior to Palacios' single, the Rays were 0 for 17 with runners in scoring position over the first two games of the series. The postseason-bound Rays, who’ve won seven of their last eight, capitalized on two fortuitous bounces in the ninth.

First, Caminero’s foul popup bounced off the Tropicana Field catwalk and out of the reach of third baseman Caleb Durbin. Caminero then lined the next pitch from Garrett Whitlock (7-2) into left. Three batters later, after Chandler Simpson singled, Connor Wong's passed ball moved Caminero to third.

The Red Sox squandered a prime opportunity in the top of the ninth.

Facing closer Bryan Baker (4-2) in a tie game, Boston got Caleb Durbin's double and Jarren Duran's triple. However, Nick Fortes threw out Durbin stealing third and Caminero made a stellar play at third base to retire Isiah Kiner-Falefa, stranding Duran.

Boston also wasted a phenomenal effort from starter Brayan Bello, who matched a career high with 11 strikeouts. In eight innings, he allowed five hits, one run and no walks. Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman (lat tightness) was unavailable.

The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead with bookend doubles from Durbin and Roman Anthony in the third inning. Trevor Story extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a sixth-inning single.

Jonathan Aranda tied it with an opposite-field solo homer on the first pitch of the Rays’ fourth.

The Rays are an MLB-best 25-14 in one-run games.

RHP Griffin Jax (7-10, 3.80 ERA) gets the nod for the Rays on Sunday in the series finale. Boston had not announced a starter.

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Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios, left, celebrates his walkoff single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock with Nick Fortes during a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios celebrates his walkoff single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero, right, celebrates after his single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson celebrates after his single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios, front, gets doused by Taylor Walls after Palacios hit a walk off single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)