MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits in Week-20
3. Nolan Arenado, 62 percent
Nolan Arenado’s Wednesday home run to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks was one of three mission-critical walk-off blasts during the week. For the record, the other two are the only two hits more meaningful than Arenado’s.
Twice already that night, the home-town Rockies had rallied to tie the game, most recently with a three-run sixth to set up a 5-5 deadlock. Ryan McMahon delivered the key blow in that inning, a three-run home run off Yoshihisa Hirano.
In the top of the ninth, Arizona went ahead for the third time. With two out, Scott Oberg walked Jake Lamb, then worked a 3-2 count on Ketel Marte.
With Lamb getting a running start, Marte looped a fly ball into short center that neither shortstop Trevor Story nor center fielder Raimel Tapia could catch up with. Taking advantage of the fortuitous placement, Lamb had come all the way around to score the go-ahead run.
But the Rockies still had a shot left in the bottom of the ninth. Story opened the inning by getting in the way of a 1-2 Archie Bradley pitch. Representing the winning run, Arenado followed by bashing Bradley’s first pitch down the left-field line and into the seats for a game-winner.