Nolan Arenado, 5-for-6, 3 HR Leads Rockies To 18-4 Win; Alex Meyer 1-Hit Over 7, Angels Top Nats, 7-0

Players of the Day for Wednesday, July 19, 2017

American League

Meyer: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER

In the two-game series featuring two of baseball's brightest young stars - LA's Mike Trout and Washington's Bryce Harper - game two went to the Angles and the spotlight was stolen by LA starter, Alex Meyer, a 27-year-old, 6'9" rookie.

Meyer took a perfect game into the fifth inning, and, after walking Anthony Rendon, took a on-hitter into the sixth, though it was spoiled by Nats' leadoff hitter, Brian Goodwin, who lashed a two-out double to right.

Meyer finished the inning and pitched a perfect seventh, taking a seat after throwing a mere 88 pitches. David Hernandez and Jose Alvarez worked the eighth and ninth, respectively, each putting in a perfect inning to finish up the 7-0 Angel's victory.

Meyer improved to 4-5, striking out seven. Harper was out of Washington's lineup for the day, but Trout managed to sock his 18th home run, a two-run jolt in the seventh.

The result was a 1-1 split in LA. Washington continues its Western swing road trip with three game in Arizona, beginning Friday. The Angels host Boston for three games, also starting Friday.

National League

Arenado: 3 HR, 7 RBI

In baseball's annals of great third basemen, the names Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, and Eddie Mathews come immediately to mind. Some day in the not-too-distant future, the name Nolan Arenado may become a staple on that list.

Wednesday in Colorado, Arenado put on a show of his magnificent swing, going 5-for-6 with two singles, a trio of home runs, four runs, and seven RBI, which vaulted him to the major league RBI lead with 80. In the National League, Bryce Harper has 73, Paul Goldschmidt, 72. Nelson Cruz leads the AL with 74.

Padres pitchers were unable to keep Arenado off the base paths as the Rockies completed the three game sweep with a 21-hit attack, humiliating San Diego, 18-4.

In the first and second innings, Arenado singled home Charlie Blackmon. In the fourth and fifth, Arenado led off the innings with solo home runs. In the sixth, he belted a three-run homer, his 21st of the season, putting the Rockies up by the gaudy score of 17-4.

Finally, Kirby Yates, the fourth and final San Diego hurler, managed to get Arenado to line out to left in the eighth inning.

The victory was Colorado's fourth straight. Combined with Arizona's 4-3 loss at Cincinnati, the Rockies hold a 1/2 game edge for second place in the NL West, though they trail division leader, Los Angeles by 11 games.

After a day off Thursday, the Rockies host the Pirates for three games. Pittsburgh also has won four straight and is in third place in the Central, four games behind Milwaukee.