PHOENIX — Seth Beer's game-winning, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning hadn't even landed yet Thursday night and Pavin Smith was already thinking of endorsement deals for his rookie teammate.
«He hits a homer, dollar beers in the stadium?» Smith said. «I mean, that's a layup, right?»
The beverage jokes were plentiful after Beer's blast to deep right field off Craig Stammen gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres. If the rookie keeps coming up clutch in moments like that, he might be remembered for more than just his popular last name.
«It was a surreal feeling,» Beer said. «It's still a dream.»
Beer's stunning homer spoiled a stellar Opening Day outing by San Diego starter Yu Darvish, who fired six no-hit innings before being pulled with a 2-0 lead after 92 pitches.
The Padres lost because of a bullpen meltdown. San Diego took its two-run advantage into the ninth, but Robert Suarez (0-1) — who was making his major league debut — walked the first two batters he faced and then hit Carson Kelly with a pitch to load the bases.
Stammen entered and immediately threw a wild pitch that scored Christian Walker to make it 2-1. And then Beer, in just his 13th big league at-bat, crushed a breaking ball that gave the Diamondbacks a comeback win on National Beer Day in the United States.
No joke.
Diamondbacks fans chanted Beer's last name in celebration as he rounded the bases. Walker said the rookie's poised at-bat is a great example of the team Arizona wants to be one year after losing 110 games.
«That's what it's all about — not giving in, holding your ground,» Walker said.
San Diego took a no-hitter into the seventh, but Arizona's first batter of the inning, Smith, laced a line-drive
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