Arenado’s misplay helps cap Cardinals collapse, one loss from elimination

Former Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado wanted to play in big games.

He got his chance on Friday afternoon, as the Cardinals took on the Phillies in the first-round of the MLB playoffs. It’s a best-of-three series, so wins are precious and losses are brutal.

St. Louis looked to have a victory locked up, entering the top of the ninth inning up 2-0. The Cardinals were 93-0 in their playoff history when leading by 2+ runs heading to the 9th. They’re now 93-1.

The Phillies rallied for six ninth inning runs, including this key play. A routine ground ball to Arenado should’ve been a double play, ending the inning at 4-2 and giving St. Louis more hope entering the bottom of the ninth. Instead, Arenado whiffed on the baseball and Philadelphia made it 5-2, before eventually going up 6-2.

Nolan Arenado is having a Phillies moment pic.twitter.com/L5chgBHl1L

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 7, 2022

Ouch. For a guy that forced his way out of Colorado because the stage wasn’t big enough and the lights weren’t bright enough, that’s a brutal misplay. Frankly, it was generous hometown scoring that it wasn’t ruled an error.

Arenado finished the day 1-4 at the plate, his only hit a blooper in the bottom of the ninth. The Cardinals tried to rally, but came up short, 6-3. If only Arenado had made the simple play, maybe the inning goes differently.

Now, Arenado and the Red Birds are one defeat away from playing golf the rest of the winter. Just like the Rockies.

***