DENVER – Nolan Arenado did incredible Nolan Arenado things against the San Deigo Padres on Wednesday.
Is it even more incredible if you do incredible every day? Anyhow, Arenado went bonkers with his bat. Arenado had a career best five hits, three homers and seven RBI in his six trips to the plate.
Arenado had a shot to become player No. 18 in MLB history to hit four home runs in the bottom of the eighth but he fell shy via a shallow fly to left.
“Obviously I was trying to hit a homer,” the Colorado Rockies’ All-Star said. “That’s probably why I didn’t. When I went out for my last at-bat I couldn’t help but thinking about getting another, that’s probably why I didn’t get it.”
The game was already 18-4 so nobody could really fault Arenado for lettin’ er rip.
Kirby Yates did what no other Padres pitcher could do and got Arenado out, not only that, he was the only Friar to pitch a scoreless inning in the contest.
“Yeah,” Arenado laughed when asked if it was like playing wife ball. “But 95 and 94 coming at you, it got real. I just tried to hit the ball hard. Kirby has been tough on me this year.”
Arenado was coming off an off day on Tuesday, just his fourth not-start of the season. On the season, he’s 14-for-25 with four homers and 13 RBI coming off a day’s rest.
Today, a well rested and somewhat angry Arenado did his thing.
“I was more motivated to come play today, whenever I have a day off that happens,” he said. “I came out and stretched early, I was fired up to be out there today. I don’t like days off and I was 0-for-5 on Monday so to have a day off after that, I just wasn’t happy with myself. I wasn’t happy that I took that day, I should’ve said no and been tougher about it.”
Arenado drove in Charlie Blackmon on a single in the first and that hit took some of the anxiety out of his body. He’d single in Blackmon again in the second, which gave the Rockies a 4-0 lead and no pressure.
“I took first pitch almost every at-bat,” the third baseman said. “They’ve been throwing a lot of junk and I don’t blame ’em. Today was a good day, one of the best days.”
His first homer came in the fourth, a solo shot that followed up a two-run blast from Blackmon.
Nolan can’t be stopped! pic.twitter.com/abzGZXYdA6
— MLB (@MLB) July 19, 2017
He did the same in the fifth, sending himself around the bases.
And in the sixth, he scored himself via the long ball and two of his teammates to starch the lead to 17-4.
That’s THREE homers for Nolan Arenado! He is now 5-for-5 with 7 RBIs … in the 7th inning. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/vJDsZUBipB
— MLB (@MLB) July 19, 2017
Arenado took back MLB’s RBI lead from Bryce Harper today as he finished with 80. In 2017 the superstar slugger is now slashing .309/.356/.584 with 21 dingers, 30 two-baggers and five triples. He entered the day with a 3.0 fWAR and finished with a 3.5 fWAR. He also entered MLB’s top ten in slugging percentage.
Nolan Arenado today 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/xTmNvlvNEO
— Daren Willman (@darenw) July 19, 2017
As for Arenado and off days, “I don’t want to take a day off the rest of the year, that’s my goal. My goal is to take no days off.”
