Pavin Smith homers in first 3 at-bats, has 8 RBIs in Diamondbacks' 12-6 win over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Pavin Smith homered in first three at-bats for his first multi-home run game and drove in a career-high eight runs, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks rout the Houston Astros 12-6 on Sunday night to end a three-game losing streak.

Smith became the second Diamondback with a three-homer game this season, with Eugenio Suárez doing it against Washington on July 30. J.D. Martinez set the Arizona record with four home runs at Los Angeles on Sept. 4, 2017.

“It was a great day for Pavin,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Pavin can hit. We always feel comfortable with his at-bats, his ability to come in the lineup after not playing for a couple of days and be able to barrel up the baseball.”

Smith fell an RBI shy of the Arizona record set by Erubiel Durazo in 2002. Chris Iannetta also had eight RBIs for the Diamondbacks in a 2017 game. Smith’s previous high was six.

Arizona — which scored at least 10 runs for a majors-best 18th time — pulled within a half-game of San Diego for the National League’s first wild card and increased its lead over New York and Atlanta to 1 1/2 games. Houston leads Seattle by 4 1/2 games in the AL West.

Smith’s first home run of the night followed back-to-back singles to start the second inning and struck the foul pole in right. Arizona had increased the lead to 4-0 when Smith came up with the bases loaded in the third and sent a 2-2 fastball from Justin Verlander (3-6) into the Crawford Boxes for the third career grand slam.

“Just one of those nights where you’re in a zone,” Smith said. “Obviously, Justin’s a great pitcher. I faced him before, and he’s got great stuff, so once I was able to put a good swing the first at-bat it gave me confidence the rest of the game.”

Verlander allowed eight runs on eight hits over three innings and failed to record a strikeout for just the third time in 381 career regular-season starts. He has a 9.68 ERA in four starts since returning from the injured list.

“Felt better, physically,” Verlander said. “It seemed like they had a really good game plan, and saw some pitches really well in some surprising spots, so tip your cap.”

With Verlander out of the game, Smith answered Alex Bregman’s fourth-inning, two-run home run by starting the fifth with his seventh homer of the season, a solo shot off Kaleb Ort that left the bat at 112.1 mph. Smith wanted to hit a fourth home run, but he struck out and walked in his final two plate appearances of the night.

“It’s something that not many people have done, and I figure if you have the chance you might as well go for it,” Smith said.

Suárez was 4 for 5 with his 26th homer, two RBIs and four runs.

Kevin Ginkel (8-3) got the last out in the fifth for the victory.

Chas McCormick and Yainer Diaz each had three hits for the Astros. McCormick is batting .409 in six games since being recalled from Triple-A.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros INF Mauricio Dubón missed his second straight game after jamming his left thumb when he dove into first base Friday. He was able to take swings in the cage before the game.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gellen (11-6, 3.69 ERA) was scheduled to face Texas RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-7, 3.55 ERA) at home Tuesday night.

Astros: RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-12, 4.82 ERA) was set to meet Oakland RHP Osvaldo Bido (5-3, 3.52 ERA) at home Tuesday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk, left, Jake McCarthy, center, and Corbin Carroll celebrate the team's win over the Houston Astros in a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith, right, celebrates after his three-run home run against the Houston Astros with third base coach Tony Perezchica during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander reacts after giving up a grand slam to Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith, right, celebrates after his grand slam against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith celebrates after his grand slam against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith, right, celebrates after his three-run home run against the Houston Astros with Eugenio Suarez during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander walks to the dugout after completing the top of the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith watches his grand slam against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith celebrates after his three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Monday launched his family's cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, with an interview on the X social media platform in which he also gave his first public comments on the apparent assassination attempt against him a day earlier.

Trump did not discuss specifics about World Liberty Financial or how it would work, pivoting from questions about cryptocurrency to talking about artificial intelligence or other topics. Instead, he recounted his experience Sunday, saying he and a friend playing golf “heard shots being fired in the air, and I guess probably four or five.”

“I would have loved to have sank that last putt,” Trump said. He credited the Secret Service agent who spotted the barrel of a rifle and began firing toward it as well as law enforcement and a civilian who he said helped track down the suspect.

World Liberty Financial is expected to be a borrowing and lending service used to trade cryptocurrencies, which are forms of digital money that can be traded over the internet without relying on the global banking system. Exchanges often charge fees for withdrawals of Bitcoin and other currencies.

Other speakers after Trump, including his eldest son, Don Jr., talked about embracing cryptocurrency as an alternative to what they allege is a banking system tilted against conservatives.

Experts have said a presidential candidate launching a business venture in the midst of a campaign could create ethical conflicts.

“Taking a pro-crypto stance is not necessarily troubling; the troubling aspect is doing it while starting a way to personally benefit from it,” Jordan Libowitz, a spokesperson for the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said earlier this month.

During his time in the White House, Trump said he was “not a fan” of cryptocurrency and tweeted in 2019, “Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity." However, during this election cycle, he has reversed himself and taken on a favorable view of cryptocurrencies.

He announced in May that his campaign would begin accepting donations in cryptocurrency as part of an effort to build what it calls a “crypto army” leading up to Election Day. He attended a bitcoin conference in Nashville this year, promising to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet” and create a bitcoin “strategic reserve” using the currency that the government currently holds.

Hilary Allen, a law professor at American University who has done research on cryptocurrencies, said she was skeptical of Trump's change of heart on crypto.

“I think it’s fair to say that that reversal has been motivated in part by financial interests,” she said.

Crypto enthusiasts welcomed the shift, viewing the launch as a positive sign for investors if Trump retakes the White House.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has not offered policy proposals on how it would regulate digital assets like cryptocurrencies.

In an effort to appeal to crypto investors, a group of Democrats, including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, participated in an online “Crypto 4 Harris” event in August.

Neither Harris nor members of her campaign staff attended the event.

Gomez Licon contributed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump waves as he boards a plane at Harry Reid International Airport after a campaign trip, Saturday, Sept.14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)