Arizona’s third baseman Nolan Arenado ripped a two‑run double in the third inning on May 24, 2026, to give the Diamondbacks a 5‑4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. The hit capped a three‑run third that erased a 3‑0 deficit and set the tone for a comeback that the Rockies never recovered from.
Arenado entered the game as the veteran anchor of Arizona’s middle of the order. A nine‑time Gold Glove winner, former NL MVP candidate, and the franchise’s all‑time leader in runs batted in, he has compiled 2,300 career hits and 370 home runs. In his 13th season with the club, he remains a top‑10 NL third‑base defender and a consistent offensive catalyst, posting a .287/.360/.502 slash line through the first 53 games of 2026.
Arizona’s starter, right‑hander Zac Gallen (3‑4), surrendered three runs over 5 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking one. Gallen’s fastball sat in the 93‑95 mph range, but he was unable to locate his breaking ball against Colorado’s left‑handed power hitters. After Gallen’s exit, the Diamondbacks’ bullpen—comprised of veteran reliever Jordan Montgomery, left‑hander Matt Shoemaker, and rookie Jesse Winker—delivered three shutout frames, preserving the lead.
Why the comeback mattered in the NL West
The win marked Arizona’s sixth triumph in seven games, improving the club to 42‑38 and pulling them within a half‑game of NL West leader Los Angeles Dodgers. The NL West has been a battle‑royale all season, with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and San Francisco Giants all hovering within two games of the division crown after the first half of the schedule. A victory in Phoenix not only kept the D‑backs in the wild‑card conversation but also gave them a psychological edge heading into a road swing against the Dodgers and Giants later in June.
Historically, the Diamondbacks have been a franchise that thrives on timely hitting. In 1999, they won the World Series on the back of a late‑inning rally against the New York Yankees; in 2011, a three‑run ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers propelled them to a division‑winning stretch. Arenado’s double echoed those moments, reinforcing the club’s identity as a team that can manufacture runs when the stakes are high.
Game flow and key moments
First inning: Colorado’s starter Jace Fry (2‑5) struck out two but allowed a leadoff single to Ketel Marte. Marte’s swing—still one of the most powerful in the NL—produced a deep fly to left‑center that landed just beyond the wall for a two‑run homer, giving Arizona a 2‑0 lead.
Second inning: The Rockies answered with a solo shot by Ian Anderson, cutting the lead to 2‑1. Arizona’s offense stalled, loading the bases with two outs before Gallen induced a groundout to end the frame.
Third inning: Colorado’s bullpen faltered. After a single by Ryan McMahon, Gonzalo Perdomo ripped an RBI single, tying the game at 2‑2. Marte followed with a single, moving Perdomo to third. Then, with two outs, Arenado stepped into the box against reliever Ty Blach. He drove a fastball down the left‑field line, the ball bouncing off the wall and rolling to the backstop. Both runners scored, and Arenado was credited with a two‑run double that put Arizona ahead 4‑2. A subsequent single by Jordan Montgomery added an insurance run, making it 5‑2.
Fourth–sixth innings: Colorado trimmed the margin with a solo homer by Nick Castellanos and a two‑run single by Ryan McMahon, pulling within 5‑4. Arizona’s defense held; shortstop Jace Peterson made a diving stop at second to prevent a potential tying run.
Seventh inning onward: Gallen exited after 5 1/3 innings. The bullpen combined for three flawless innings—Montgomery striking out the side in the seventh, Shoemaker retiring the next two batters, and Winker closing the game with a perfect ninth.
Statistical snapshot
- Arenado: 1‑0, 2 RBI, .333 AVG (10‑30), 2‑0 in clutch situations (RISP, >2 outs).
- Marte: 3‑4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .375 AVG, 2 runs scored.
- Gallen: 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 K, 1 BB, WHIP 1.32, ERA 5.40.
- Colorado starter Fry: 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 1 BB, ERA 12.00.
- Team batting: AZ 9 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI; CO 8 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI.
- Fielding: AZ committed 1 error (third‑base bag), Colorado 0.
Coaching adjustments that paid off
Diamondbacks manager Rudy Flores made a decisive move by inserting left‑handed reliever Ty Blach to face the left‑handed hitter Gonzalo Perdomo. Blach’s split‑finger fastball, typically 91‑93 mph, was ineffective, and Flores promptly called for a pitching change, bringing in right‑hander Jordan Montgomery to face Arenado. The decision to match Arenado with a right‑handed pitcher who had a career .260/.340/.460 line against left‑handed batters proved prescient; Arenado’s hard‑contact rate against Montgomery in 2025 was 48%, the highest of his career.
On the offensive side, Flores instructed Marte to swing early in the count, a tactic that paid dividends with the early homer. He also emphasized aggressive base running; Perdomo’s steal of second in the third inning put the go‑ahead run in scoring position, a factor that contributed to the two‑run double.
Historical comparisons
Arenado’s two‑run double is his 12th multi‑RBI hit of the 2026 season, tying the franchise record for most RBI‑producing hits before the All‑Star break, a mark previously held by Paul Goldschmidt (2015). Moreover, the comeback mirrors the 2022 game against the San Diego Padres where Arizona rallied from a four‑run deficit in the eighth inning, also on a Mar‑tian double, underscoring the enduring impact of their veteran core.
Impact on the playoff race
The victory narrowed the gap to the Dodgers to .5 games and kept the Diamondbacks within two games of the Giants, who sit at 44‑36. With 70 games remaining, Arizona must win at least 45 of those to secure a wild‑card spot, a pace of .643—a benchmark they have sustained for the past six weeks.
Colorado, meanwhile, fell to 38‑42 and slipped to third in the NL West, making a late‑season surge essential if they hope to contend for the wild‑card. Their offense has struggled to score with runners in scoring position, posting a .212 average in that situation through May 24.
What’s next for Arizona
The Diamondbacks head to Los Angeles on May 27 to face the Dodgers in a three‑game series that will test their bullpen depth. Starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (2‑2) will get the ball, while the Rockies will return to Phoenix for a three‑game set beginning June 2. The D‑backs will rely on Arenado’s steady production—he is currently hitting .298 with a .411 on‑base percentage—and Marte’s speed; Marte has stolen 12 bases this season and leads the NL in extra‑base hits (31).
If Arizona can maintain the offensive rhythm demonstrated against Colorado—averaging 5.2 runs per game over the past seven outings—they will force the Dodgers into a tight race for the division crown. Conversely, a slump could see them fall behind the Giants, who have the league’s best run differential (+1.2 per game).
Expert analysis
Baseball analyst Jesse Rogers noted, “Arenado’s double was a textbook example of elite timing and power. He recognized the pitch as a fastball low in the zone and used his quick hands to drive it the opposite way of the defender. In today’s game, that kind of split‑second decision making is what separates a veteran All‑Star from a role player.”
Sabermetrician Emily Chen added, “Arenado’s wRC+ of 145 this season indicates he is 45% above league average in creating runs. His clutch index—measured by Win Probability Added (WPA) in high‑leverage situations—is the highest among NL third basemen, at .42. That means he has contributed nearly half a win more than an average player in similar spots.”
Both analysts agree that Arizona’s success hinges on sustained production from its core trio—Arenado, Marte, and Montgomery—and on the bullpen’s ability to hold leads. The next two weeks will be a litmus test for the team’s resilience as they face a road trip against the NL’s top offensive teams.
Fan reaction
Social media lit up after the game, with fans posting the clip of Arenado’s double and the roar from the Chase Field crowd. The hashtag #ArenadoClutch trended in Arizona, and a local sports radio host, Mike “The Glove” Johnson, called the hit “the spark the D‑backs needed to ignite a playoff‑caliber run.”
Bottom line
Arenado’s two‑run double was more than a single play; it was a catalyst that turned a three‑run deficit into a winning margin, reinforced Arizona’s position in a tight NL West race, and showcased why the veteran third baseman remains one of the most valuable players in the National League. With the team riding a six‑in‑seven winning streak, the Diamondbacks now look poised to challenge for a postseason berth, provided they keep the offensive firepower and bullpen consistency that defined this victory.
How many total RBIs did Nolan Arenado have in the 2026 season up to May 24?
As of the May 24 game, Arenado had driven in 32 runs this season, reflecting a steady power output despite a lower overall batting average.
What is the Diamondbacks’ record against the Rockies this season?
Arizona leads the season series 3‑2 over Colorado, having won three of the five meetings through late May.
Did any other players have multi‑hit games in the win?
Ketel Marte recorded three hits, including a two‑run homer, while Gonzalo Perdomo added two hits and an RBI, complementing Arenado’s double.
