Nolan Arenado, Rockies continue dominance over rival Giants

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado on Friday became Major League Baseball's all-time extra-base hits leader for third basemen in a single season. Arenado accomplished the feat with a home run -- his 42nd of 2015 -- in the second inning and a double in the third in the Rockies' 9-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Arenado passed Chipper Jones, whose 87 extra-base hits in 1999 marked the previous record. We only keep pounding this home because we have to, but it's important to keep in mind that Arenado didn't set the record simply because he gets to play half of his games at Coors Field. The 24-year-old budding star has 41 extra-base hits -- including 22 homers -- on the road and leads the National League in slugging percentage in away games, posting a .542 mark through 77 contests.

The two-time Gold Glover who is now blossoming on offense also reached 130 RBI for the season on Friday, becoming the eighth Rockies player (Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette, Larry Walker, Todd Helton, Preston Wilson, Vinny Castilla, Matt Holliday) to reach that mark. The Rockies had only three occurrences (of 11 total) of 130 or more RBI in a season since the installation of the humidor in 2002.

Additionally, it's rare that one player causes one team the amount of pain that Arenado has inflicted against the Giants this year. Arenado has 10 homers -- six at AT&T Park -- and 24 RBI against San Francisco pitching, becoming the first player since Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz in 2005 to hit double-digit homers against a single team in a season.

Prior to Arenado, no player hit 10 or more homers against the San Francisco in a season since Dale Murphy in his MVP-winning 1983 campaign. And the last player with 10-plus homers and 24 or more RBI in one year against the Giants was none other than Hall of Famer Stan Musial did it 61 years ago.

Arenado has been great this season. He's been otherworldly against the hated Giants, who deserve every bit of what Arenado has given them (right, Jon Miller?).

In yet another last-place season, Arenado and the Rockies have at least made life grand for Colorado baseball fans in games against the orange-clad whiners. Arenado's .338/.392/.882 line in 74 plate appearances spanning 17 games has lifted the Rockies to a 10-7 record against the defending World Series champions. Colorado has outscored San Francisco by 19 runs in those 17 contests.

Arenado and the Rockies can end the season on a nice high note by sweeping the Giants -- who don't have their ace, Madison Bumgarner, going in this series -- at AT&T Park. That would give Colorado 69 wins on the season.

Nice, indeed.