Nolan Arenado's bat, glove spark Team USA in WBC opener

PHOENIX — Playing for Team USA again in the WBC was never a question for third baseman Nolan Arenado. After helping the U.S. win the tournament in 2017, he desperately wanted a chance to defend that title.

He's off to a good start.

Arenado, 31, had three hits and several highlight-reel defensive plays in the team's opening-round win, a 6-2 victory over Great Britain on Saturday night. He set the tone after the U.S. got down 1-0.

«The intensity with which he works pregame is honestly — I'm not sugarcoating it — like nothing I've ever seen,» Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said after the game. «He's intense in ground balls. He's intense in his cage work.»

Arenado's pregame routine was actually thrown off due to the length of the previous contest on Saturday, between Colombia and Mexico. It's one of the things he learned while playing in the tournament in 2017. You have to be able to adjust on the fly.

«We were taking ground balls in the outfield today,» Arenado said. «I haven't taken ground balls in the outfield since I was in Little League. While I was doing it, I made sure to focus and do it the right way. It prepared me. I was ready to go.»

The same can be said of Arenado at the plate, after the team wasn't able to take batting practice on the field. He adjusted his routine again, then a couple of hours later, doubled home the tying run in the second inning before scoring the go-ahead run a few moments later.

He added another double and a single and also made several on-the-run throws across his body to first base.

«I've played with some great fielders,» said Adam Wainwright, Arenado's Cardinals teammate and Saturday's starter. «I don't know if I've ever played with somebody behind me like that. I've played with the best