Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado gave his team an early 3-0 lead Wednesday at San Francisco with a three-run homer off Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum in the first inning. Lincecum got ahead of Arenado, 0-2, before Arenado golfed a 79-mph changeup into the left-center field seats.
"I just wanted to make sure I stayed on the ball, think middle, before I pulled off it," said Arenado, who is celebrating his 24th birthday Thursday, per MLB.com. "Luckily enough, I got a pitch to hit and put a swing on it."
Arenado has had plenty of success against Lincecum in his career, and it extends to spring training as well. Arenado hit a three-run homer off Lincecum in a March 31 spring game. In the regular season, Arenado is batting .417 (5 for 12) with one double, one home run and three RBI in his career against the right-hander.
"He [Arenado] is their guy," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's a nice player. He's maybe the best defensive third baseman in the game and the guy hits in the heart of the order."