After a near-miss turned foul, Nolan Arenado maintained his composure to crush a massive go-ahead blast, fueling a vital comeback victory for the Arizona Diamondbacks, keeping their postseason hopes alive.
Nolan Arenado had already come within a few feet of changing the game when he stepped back into the batter’s box during the fifth inning Sunday. One pitch later, the Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman finished the job.
Arenado’s first swing against the New York Yankees sent the ball toward the left-field foul pole. For a moment, it appeared he had delivered a go-ahead grand slam in the series finale. The ball drifted just foul, leaving the bases loaded with Arizona trailing 4-2.
Rather than allowing the missed opportunity to affect him, Arenado reset and capitalized on the next pitch.
He launched his third grand slam of the season into the left-field seats. The 381-foot home run gave the Diamondbacks a 6-4 advantage, sparked another comeback and helped them secure an 8-4 victory. Arizona also won the series against New York.
Arenado’s big moment
Only a few innings earlier, the Diamondbacks faced a 4-1 deficit after starter Corbin Burnes allowed three home runs before being removed in the third inning.
Arizona began its comeback in the fifth. Lars Nootbaar doubled, Ketel Marte singled and Gabriel Moreno walked to load the bases against Yankees starter Will Warren.
Following a pitching change, Corbin Carroll drew a walk that forced home a run and brought Arenado to the plate.
According to Alex Weiner from Arizona Sports, Arenado told the media after the game that he was disappointed when his first drive went foul but understood that he needed to regroup and remain prepared.
Having seen the first two pitches clearly, he stayed ready for another fastball. Arenado received one over the middle and drove it into the seats.
“I was slightly bummed when I saw it go foul the first one, but I knew I just had to kind of regroup and just stay ready,” Arenado said.
“I saw the first two pitches well, so I feel like I could just stay on the heater throughout the at-bat. And luckily I got another one middle and I was able to hit it up.”
His ability to reset became the game’s defining moment. A swing that initially appeared to be a missed opportunity gave way to another chance, and Arenado capitalized immediately.
Arenado is now hitting .247 with team-bests of 27 home runs and 78 RBIs in 146 games.
The victory kept Arizona’s postseason hopes alive with six games remaining. The Diamondbacks stayed four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the last National League Wild Card spot.
Arenado’s mindset
Arizona still faces considerable work, but Arenado’s grand slam preserved its opportunity to continue playing meaningful games.
His second chance at the plate kept the Diamondbacks in the race and provided another reason to believe they can make a late push for October.
Arenado’s emotional control was admirable. Watching a potential grand slam turn foul could easily cause a hitter to become impatient or expand the strike zone.
Instead, he maintained his approach and remained prepared for the pitch he wanted. His experience allowed him to process the disappointment quickly without carrying it into the next swing.
Arenado also brings situational awareness and confidence in important moments. He understood that the previous pitch could not be recovered and trusted his preparation when another opportunity arrived.
That combination of composure, pitch recognition and controlled aggression allowed Arenado to transform a near miss into Arizona’s biggest swing of the game.
