Delivering the D: Charlie Blackmon crashes into the wall for a clutch catch

The August 1 Colorado Rockies 5-4 win over the New York Mets was perhaps most memorable for yet another walk-off hit from one of the most clutch players in MLB, Nolan Arenado. But defense can be clutch, too, and Charlie Blackmon’s catch in the half-inning prior to Arenado drove him in to win the game may have been just as important in the grand scheme.

Heart and hustle.@Chuck_Nazty ? pic.twitter.com/tSGTpMgHhV

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 2, 2017

Blackmon has put together an MVP-caliber season at the plate, leading the National League in hits by 10, slashing .328/.386/.600 with 25-home runs mostly while batting lead off for the Rockies. He leads MLB in runs scored by 11 with a total of 99.

And as this play shows, he can also give Colorado a huge lift with a web gem in a big moment in the game, selling all out and crashing into the wall to make the catch and then still having the focus and wherewithal to lead off the next inning to start the game-winning rally.

Blackmon has been instrumental with both bat and glove in hand for a Colorado Rockies club that currently leads the National League Wild Card race and holds the fourth-best record in baseball.