To win the postseason, sometimes it requires a player you didn't expect to contribute much to provide that spark. In the Diamondbacks walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3, that spark came from Pavin Smith. With a chance to take their first series lead against rookie right-hander Orion Kerkering in the 7th inning, manager Torey Lovullo sent Smith up to the plate. Twice he batted with a runner and scoring position and delivered a hit, advancing the go-ahead runner to third with no outs. While it did not result in a run in the 7th, it set up the situation for Ketel Marte to walk it off in the 9th.
"I've been rooting for this team on the bench, and ready for my opportunity when called upon. I've been having a routine. Benching is important, and I've been visualizing those ABs for a while, and I was able to come through."
That routine includes going to the cages behind the dugout with Jace Peterson in the 5th inning and working with the coaches to be ready for when they're called upon. While Peterson is not playing in the National League Championship Series, he's still providing the type of presence that Smith is leaning on to handle a bench role.
"Just a veteran presence. He has been here before, and just a guy you can lean on and talk things through. He is very smart, and he's seen it all pretty much."
Since being drafted by the Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2017 draft, Smith's career has been anything but a smooth ride. After a decent rookie showing in 2021 where he hit .291 with 11 home runs and a .732 OPS. He's spent the last two seasons between Triple-A and the big leagues, struggling to find a consistent role on the team. Despite spending the second half of the season in Reno, the team added Smith to the roster for the Wild Card series as a left-handed bat off the bench. He's taken advantage of the opportunities given so far, reaching in all three plate appearances.
As that 9th inning unfolded, Smith found himself standing at third base with Marte coming up to bat. Two pitches later, he scored the winning run as Marte's base hit safely landed in the outfield.
"I was ready to go on anything on the ground. He got a fastball above the zone, and he was able to put a good swing on it. He has just been great for us from the right side of the plate, left side of the plate, doesn't matter. We're super confident when he comes up to the plate. As I was running home, I put my hands up in the air and knew we won and chased Ketel out there in center field."
If the Diamondbacks do turn around this series and advance, Smith's heroics in Game 3 will be a big reason as to why.
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