Yankees fall to Diamondbacks in walk-off loss as AL East hopes shrink

· New York Post

PHOENIX — On a night that began with the Diamondbacks honoring the 25th anniversary of their 2001 team that won the World Series against the Yankees, they paid tribute again a few hours later to deliver some more nightmares back in New York.

It was by no means Luis Gonzalez versus Mariano Rivera, nor a bloop over a drawn-in infield.

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But it was a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, with Pavin Smith belting a two-run shot off Michael Fulmer to sink the Yankees in a 5-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Saturday night in front of 47,918 nostalgic fans at Chase Field.

Three hours before first pitch here, multiple Yankees sat in the visiting clubhouse tuned into the Rays and Red Sox game with vested interest in the two teams surrounding them in the standings.

The Rays eventually walked off with a 2-1 win, meaning they moved five games ahead of the Yankees (89-65) for first place in the American League East with eight games to play, while the Yankees remained 5 ¹/₂ games clear of the Red Sox for the top AL wild card.

Likely AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler gave up more than one run for the first time since Aug. 3, with the Diamondbacks scratching across three runs against him — two of them unearned — across six innings.

Two bunts and a brief lack of command opened the door just enough for the Diamondbacks to get to him, though Schlittler still finished the night with a 1.94 ERA across 190 ²/₃ innings this season, with one more start remaining in the regular season.

The Yankees had a prime chance to break a scoreless game open in the top of the fifth inning, when they loaded the bases with one out against Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt.

Arizona’s Pavin Smith belts a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Sept. 19, 2026 in Phoenix. Getty Images

But manager Torey Lovullo, in a sign of how desperate his club is in trying to stay alive in the National League wild-card race, went to the bullpen for hard-throwing righty Justin Martinez.

The move worked, as Martinez limited the damage to just a sacrifice fly from Ben Rice, which put the Yankees ahead 1-0 before Cody Bellinger flew out to end the threat.

The only base runner Schlittler had allowed through four innings was a harmless four-pitch walk in the second before Nolan Arenado blooped a broken-bat single with one out in the fifth.

Cam Schlittler allowed three runs over six innings and received a no-decision in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to the Diamondbacks. Getty Images

Tim Tawa then laid down a bunt to the left of the mound, which Schlittler tried to field himself but bobbled, never even getting a throw off to first base.

Then with two outs, Schlittler got ahead 1-2 on No. 9 hitter Jordan Lawlar before leaving a 99 mph fastball over too much of the plate, as Lawlar smoked it to the gap for a two-run triple that put the Diamondbacks ahead 2-1.

The Yankees had an immediate response in the top of the sixth, as Heliot Ramos and Austin Wells both crushed solo home runs off righty reliever Kevin Ginkel to regain a 3-2 lead.

Austin Wells celebrates with teammates in the dugout after belting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Diamondbacks. AP

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But then Schlittler did just about the worst thing possible, walking the first two batters on a combined eight pitches to lead off the bottom of the sixth.

Geraldo Perdomo followed with another bunt to the left of the mound, and this time Ryan McMahon could not get a clean handle on it, loading the bases with no outs.

Corbin Carroll then hit a sacrifice fly that tied the game 3-3, but Schlittler settled down from there, striking out the next two batters to strand a pair of runners in scoring position.

Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn then came on in relief to provide the next six outs to the ninth inning.