If baseball were more like basketball and the team truly went as its stars go, the Colorado Rockies would be riding one of the hottest streaks in baseball thanks to Nolan Arenado. The third baseman is hitting .407 in his last seven games with eight home runs, 15 RBI and a goliath 1.333 slugging percentage.
Arendao drove in eight runs during the Rockies’ weekend series against San Francisco, but even that was not enough to earn the series win. Colorado entered the rubber-match on Sunday with a chance to improve their record against the Giants this year to 8-4, including 5-1 at AT&T Park. Arenado did his part, pacing the Rockies to a first inning 2-1 lead with a home run and sending another solo shot over the left field wall in the ninth, but that would be all the offense the Rockies could muster against World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner.
Kyle Kendrick allowed 5 earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched to earn the loss, his tenth on the year.
With the three RBI, Arenado took claim of first place in the MLB with 68, passing the idle Giancarlo Stanton who is sidelined 4-6 weeks with a broken left wrist. Additionally, Arenado’s seven consecutive games with at least one hit, one run and one RBI marks only the second time in five year that such a feat has been accomplished, joining the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera.
Colorado won the opening game of the series on Friday due in large part to a big night from Arenado who homered twice and drove in four. Carlos Gonzalez also went 5-for-5 on the night. Colorado won 8-6, improving Chad Bettis’ record to 4-2.
On Saturday Arenado was just 1-4 with a run and a RBI. Colorado blew a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning. Rafael Betancourt took the loss.
In addition to leading all MLB in RBI, he is second in total bases, third in home runs and slugging percentage. He has improved his batting average to .290 on the season.
Arenado is currently riding a 15-game hit streak, the second-longest active streak in baseball behind Billy Burns (16) of the Oakland Athletics. Both streaks will be on the line on Monday as the two teams begin a three-game set.
David Hale (2-2) faces Kendall Graveman (4-4). First pitch from O.co Coliseum is 8:05 p.m. MDT.