Arenado slugs his ninth homer in Rockies' win

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado and the Rockies considered Friday night a nice welcome home.
Arenado, who went 1-for-10 while the Rockies lost two of three at Dodger Stadium, launched a two-out solo shot to right-center off Reds righty Sal Romano in the bottom of the first in the Rockies' 5-4 win.
"He [Romano] just got behind and I was just trying not to give anything away, stay real aggressive," said Arenado, who hit a 2-0 pitch for his fourth homer at home.
Arenado's ninth homer of the season trimmed the Rockies' deficit to 2-1. Arenado also drew two walks and, although he grounded into a double play with runners at the corner in the fourth, considered the game a step forward.
"Hopefully, I can start driving the ball, doing what I'm capable of doing," Arenado said. "But at the same time, I've got to take my pitches. I walked twice, which is good. I got on base three times. I'm doing my job. As long as I can do that, good things happen."
The Rockies' offense has struggled all season. Colorado entered Friday's game hitting .252 at home -- sixth in the National League -- and that was part of the reason the Rockies, who began a nine-game homestand, were 7-11 at Coors before their series-opening win over the Reds. Arenado was batting .391 in 18 home games before Friday's action.
Arenado seemed to step outside of his normal swing in Los Angeles, where he struck out six times. But going the other way Friday was a way of regaining his swing.
"I think it's a good sign -- I'm staying through the baseball, not coming off," Arenado said. "The one where I grounded into a double play, I kind of came off. But that one [the homer], I stayed through the ball really well."