Nolan Arenado made a heroic play that helped the St. Louis Cardinals secure a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, but it came at a physical cost. In the ninth inning, Arenado sprinted after a foul pop-up from Ketel Marte and made a full-speed, tumbling catch near the third-base seats at Busch Stadium. While the catch was spectacular, Arenado ended up on the ground, clutching his side and struggling to breathe.
After the game, Arenado revealed that he took a hit to his left kidney area during the fall, which briefly knocked the wind out of him. He lost his breath for about a minute but managed to stay in the game. Although he felt sore afterward, he received treatment and iced the area following the game. Despite the discomfort, Arenado’s defense remained sharp and crucial to the team.
The catch preserved an important out with runners on base, helping the Cardinals maintain control late in the game. Shortly after, reliever Phil Maton struck out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to end the game, completing the Cardinals’ fourth sweep of the season. Veteran pitcher Sonny Gray praised Arenado’s dedication, emphasizing how vital his efforts are to the team’s success.
While Arenado has struggled offensively this season—going 0-for-4 in the game and still searching for consistency—his defensive prowess remains elite. The recent weekend series highlighted why he is regarded as one of MLB’s greatest defensive third basemen. Manager Oliver Marmol called him “definitely a Hall of Famer” and “one of the best third basemen to ever play.”
Arenado, a ten-time Gold Glove winner and eight-time All-Star, said winning another Gold Glove would be especially meaningful to him. The Cardinals, currently 28-23, have won 16 of their last 20 games and are close behind the Cubs in the NL Central. If the team continues to perform well, talk of a postseason run could soon replace trade rumors surrounding Arenado.
