Arenado gem: 'Where do you rank that one?'

DENVER -- In trying to pull his team out of a funk, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado pulled another of his patented strong-armed defensive plays in the sixth inning on Monday night against the Padres.

It didn’t spark the Rockies, of course. Their offensive struggles and a slump by right-handed starting pitcher Germán Márquez continued in a 6-0 loss, which meant the Padres took 3-of-4 in the series and pushed the Rockies below .500, at 17-18.

• Box score

“It’s been a crazy year, offensively grinding,” Arenado said. “But I don’t take my at-bats on defense. I learned that from [Troy Tulowitzki] and guys that were before me. It’s obviously helping me now.”

The Rockies absorbed their second shutout of the season and first at home -- where they have won just three of their last 12 games. Márquez, who started Opening Night and had a 2.25 ERA through his first five starts, gave up five runs and eight hits in his six innings. Healthy and maintaining the quality of his stuff but missing spots on key pitches, Márquez has a 10.13 ERA in his last three outings.

The Rockies had just three hits in the first six innings. Once again, the Rockies simply couldn’t rally for runs. They were outscored in the series, 32-10.

The Rockies seem a long way from the club that took 2-of-3 from the Padres in the first home series of the season and began the year 11-3.

“You look at the track record of some of a lot of the guys on the team, and I’m confident in that to show up moving forward,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Twenty-five games -- it can happen quickly, and it can happen fast.”

At Monday’s Trade Deadline, the Rockies obtained outfielder Kevin Pillar from the Red Sox, and on Sunday, they traded with the Orioles for reliever Mychal Givens. But that activity did not ignite them against the Padres. While Pillar figures to help the bottom of the order, the Rockies need better production from top to bottom.

The Rockies didn’t obtain a middle-of-the-order bat, so improvement is paramount from the big three. Arenado had a seventh-inning single but is below his normal production at .268 with seven home runs. Trevor Story has struck out six times the last two games. Charlie Blackmon was in a 1-for-20 slumps before a second-inning single

“I’ve hit in the middle of the lineup for a long time now, and my job is to produce,” Arenado said. “Obviously, I haven’t done great throughout this year so far, but I’m feeling better. I feel like I’m having good at-bats. There’s no added pressure, like I’ve got to do extra. I’m focusing on the process, continuing to work hard, and, hopefully, it’ll turn

But Arenado pulled off the defensive highlight.

With the Rockies trailing, 5-0, Arenado’s running, backhand grab of Austin Nola’s grounder carried him into foul ground. No matter. Arenado made a leaping, across-the-body throw to beat Nola to first base.

“Where do you rank that one?” Rockies TV announcer Drew Goodman exclaimed as the throw sailed across the infield.

Such plays don’t come as a surprise. After all, Sports Info Solutions, which compiles the statistical information for The Fielding Bible Awards, announced Monday that Arenado’s 10 defensive runs saved lead all Major League players at all positions.

“I want to be a complete baseball player,” Arenado said. “I’ve always said that.”