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Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Dethrones Athletics Denzel Clarke Per MLB Announcement
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Dethrones Athletics Denzel Clarke Per MLB Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
For the first time in five weeks we have a new recipient of MLB's Electric Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet.
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MLB announced on Monday that St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has dethroned Athletics rookie centerfielder Denzel Clarke as this week's winner.
Arenado claimed the honor for his bare-handed game-ending play against the Chicago Cubs on June 24.
With two outs in the top of the ninth inning of an 8-7 game, and the game-tying run on third base, the Cubs' Danbsy Swanson hit a high chopper to third base. Arenado, a 10-time gold glove winner, charged the ball and made a barehanded play, throwing out Swanson at first base to preserve the crucial victory for the Cardinals.
'I didn't expect us to be winning like this, at this point,' Arenado told after the game. 'I expected us to play hard, I thought we were going to be good defensively and I thought our pitching would be fine. … Just seeing everyone one-through-nine contributing, I mean I like playing baseball like this … against the Cubs … where games matter.
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) barehands a ground ball and throws out Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (not pictured)Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
'As you get older, that's what you want. You don't want to play games just to play games. Individually, I've accomplished some things in this game and I want to accomplish something team-oriented and special and win a World Series. Games like this, it's easy to wake up for. This is the most excited [that] I've come to the ballpark for – this series – in about two years.'
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Arenado's Electric Play of the Week win breaks the record streak set by Clarke, who won four weeks in a row. It's also the second win for Arenado in his career, and first by a Cardinals player since Jordan Walker took home the award on July 17, 2023. Alec Burleson's amazing diving catch against the netting in the same game also received votes.
Related: Cardinals Look to Remain Unbeaten Against Pirates' Paul Skenes
Related: Cardinals' No. 1 Prospect Added to NL All-Star Futures Game Roster
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
