Pavin Smith and Drey Jameson Star in D-backs Comeback Win

Smith's three-run homer and Jameson's clutch relief propel Diamondbacks in 7-5 Victory over the Rockies.

Pavin Smith hit a go-ahead three-run homer in a five run second inning as the D-backs came back from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Rockies 7-5.

Prior to the game D-backs manager Torey Lovullo was asked about Smith, who had been slumping since late April. As we wrote about during the game preview, Lovullo insisted that Smith had been having better at-bats than the results had shown. Smith had success batting leadoff in 2021, but so far this year had failed to do much when given the opportunity.

Today was a different story however. Smith drew a walk leading off the bottom of the first. In the second inning, the D-backs had already rallied to score two runs thanks to a Jake McCarthy two-run single. One out later Smith stepped up and drove the first pitch he saw 426 feet over the Home Run Porch in right center field.

Ryne Nelson got the start but by his own acknowledgement, did not have his best stuff.  "The changeup wasn't great, the slider seemed to be off the plate or in the middle.  It was pretty much just a fastball/slider attack today, I didn't throw any curveballs. The velo was a little down, but I grinded through it and the team picked me up".  

His rough outing began when Ryan McMahon hit a two-out solo homer in the first inning to put the Rockies up 1-0. It was the fourth game in a row McMahon had homered and he was just getting started. In the second inning the Rockies plated three runs on four hits and a walk. Ezequiel Tovar had a two-run double and McMahon had an RBI single.

In the fifth inning Nelson walked Kris Bryant with a pitch timer violation on a 3-2 count and then gave up a triple to McMahon, plating Bryant. Nelson gutted out the rest of the inning to strand McMahon at third however when induced three straight popups. By that time the D-backs lead was 7-5, and Nelson was in line for the win. His final line was 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3BB, 1 SO, 1 HR.

While Nelson shows as the winning pitcher in the box score, improving to 2-2, the pitching star of the game was Drey Jameson. He relieved Nelson in the 6th and recorded 3.2 shutout innings. He retired the side in order with two strikeouts in the 6th. The Rockies loaded the bases with two outs in the 7th on three straight singles, but Jameson struck out Harold Castro on three straight changeups to end the inning.  A leadoff walk and a two out single in the 8th inning gave the Rockies first and second with two outs. Unfazed, Jameson got Bryant to pop up on a slider to end that threat as well. He got two more strikeouts in the ninth inning before giving up a two-out single, and gave way to Andrew Chafin to record the final out. Chafin went to a full count on pinch hitter Elehuris Montero, but struck him out swinging to end the game and take the series opener.

After the game Gurriel came out to put a "Victory Vest" on Jameson. He seemed to wear it well. 

Give 'em the old razzle dazzle. ✨ pic.twitter.com/QbdnHFKa7h

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 29, 2023

Jameson threw 59 pitches, 44 for strikes.  He threw a whopping 28 sliders and got 11 of his 15 swing and miss off the pitch. Asked to assess his outing Jameson said "I feel like I was throwing a lot of strikes, getting ahead of guys, and making pitches when I need to make pitches. The Slider felt really good"

Lourdes Gurriel Jr hit his 9th homer of the year in the fourth inning. Gabriel Moreno had a sacrifice fly in the 3rd to score Emmanuel Rivera, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Rivera also had a singled and scored in the 2nd inning. McCarthy had two hits, a walk, and two stolen bases. 

We have full audio of the Manager, Nelson, Jameson and Smith for you to enjoy and catch up on to hear in their own words how they engineered the team's 31st victory.  With one third of the season over they are on pace to win 93 games and remain in the first wild card position. 

The series continues tomorrow at 6:40 P.M, with Zac Gallen taking on Kyle Freeland in the best on paper pitching matchup of the series.