Pavin Smith Hits Grand Slam, Diamondbacks Beat Cardinals 6-3
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Pavin Smith did not make the opening day roster, but is making the most of his opportunity since being called up April 9th. After getting two hits and an RBI in Sunday's win against the Marlins, he continued his hot hitting with a grand slam that capped a five-run seventh inning.
The D-backs went on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 as Merrill Kelly (1-2) got the win, lowering his ERA to 2.53 in the process. Andrew Chafin notched his third save and has yet to be charged with a run in 8 outings. Jack Flaherty took the loss for the Cardinals, and is now 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA.
The D-backs jumped out to a quick lead off Flaherty thanks to a lead-off double against the base of the left field wall from Josh Rojas, and an RBI single by Ketel Marte, staking Kelly to a 1-0 lead. It looks like that was all the run support Kelly was going to get for a while, as they did not get any more hits until the sixth inning. Kelly was up to the task however.
Through the first five innings he needed just 58 pitches to navigate the Cardinals lineup, giving up just three hits and not walking a batter. The only hitter that gave him trouble was Willson Contreras, who doubled with one out in the fourth inning on the ninth pitch of his at bat. Kelly stranded him at second however, getting a lineout and a groundout.
In the bottom of the 6th, with the D-backs still clinging to that 1-0 lead, Brendan Donovan singled with one out. Kelly was called for a balk, moving Donovan to second. That may have upset Kelly's rhythm a bit. After another lineout, up came Contreras. Once again he had an extended at bat, this time doubling on the 10th pitch and driving in Donovan to tie it up at 1-1
That was all for Kelly, as the 27-pitch inning saw him gassed by the end, and Torey Lovullo went to the pen. Kelly's final line was six innings pitched, five hits, one run, no walks and three strikeouts. Having walked four batters in each of his previous three outings, it was especially gratifying for him to control the base on balls.
As often has been the case this season the D-backs answered right back, as the broadcast has even taken to calling them the Arizona Answer Backs. Ketel Marte hit his second home run of the year to lead off the 7th, putting the D-backs back in front 2-1. The pitch was a slider up and out over the plate, and Marte hit it over the left center field wall. A double by Lourdes Gurriel Jr and two walks, including Corbin Carroll's first of the year, set the stage for Smith's big blow off reliever Andre Pallante.
After the game Smith, who had just fouled off a curveball, thought that Pallante would come back with the fastball. But Pallante hung another curve up and out over the plate and this time Smith crushed it 414 feet.
Smith is 6-18, (.333) with three doubles, the homer, and nine RBI's since getting called back up.
The only blemish on an otherwise very good performance was José Ruiz coming into the game in the 8th and giving up a two-run homer to Alec Burleson, getting the Cardinals within three runs. It's the second time in two outings as a Diamondback the recently acquired Ruiz has given up a home run.
Andrew Chafin made quick work of the Cardinals in the 9th inning, inducing a weak broken bat tapper to the mound from Nolan Arenado and striking out Dylan Carlson and Tyler O'Neill to end the game.
Game two of this three game series is tomorrow night at Busch Stadium. Drey Jameson will go against Jordan Montgomery. Game time 4:45 MST.
