Diamondbacks split pivotal Yankees series, keep faint wild-card hopes alive

Arizona dropped the opener but got a walk-off from Pavin Smith and a Nolan Arenado grand slam before closing the season on the road in Colorado and San Diego.

The Arizona Diamondbacks closed out their final home series of the 2026 season against the New York Yankees with mixed results in a critical stretch of the National League wild-card race. Arizona dropped Friday's opener 9-2, with starter Eduardo Rodriguez giving up five runs before the Diamondbacks batted. Rodriguez entered the game with a 7.84 first-inning ERA in 2026, compared to a 1.89 ERA from the second inning onward.

Saturday's game coincided with the franchise's celebration of the 25th anniversary of its 2001 World Series championship team, with former players including Randy Johnson and Luis Gonzalez in attendance. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Pavin Smith hit a two-run home run to give Arizona a 5-3 walk-off win over New York.

Sunday's home finale featured a go-ahead grand slam from Nolan Arenado in the fifth inning, his third of the season and the ninth of his career, helping Arizona salvage the series. Arenado entered the final week with 27 home runs, and three of the club's last six games are at Coors Field, where he has hit 139 career home runs.

Arizona now heads out on its final road trip, facing the Colorado Rockies for three games before closing the regular season in San Diego against the Padres. The Diamondbacks trail three teams in the wild-card standings, and elimination scenarios include two Arizona losses or two Padres wins. A Dodgers sweep of San Diego combined with an Arizona sweep in Colorado would set up the season-ending series in San Diego as a direct battle for the final playoff spot.