Nolan Arenado plays baseball with the joy of a Little Leaguer, but his smile masks the intensity that burns within. No one is harder on Arenado than Arenado.

On June 14, the Rockies third baseman was ticked off — at himself, and at the way his team was playing. That day, the Rockies lost 9-3 at Philadelphia, their seventh loss in eight games. Arenado sat on the bench that day, getting a breather and contemplating a slump that would reach a career-high 19 consecutive at-bats.

Since then, Arenado has been on a tear, hitting .390 (16-for-41) in 10 games, with six home runs, five doubles and 16 RBIs.

“I’m sure the day off helped,” Arenado said, explaining his sizzling streak. “Probably the anger of losing and playing bad helped, too. I work hard. I hit late at night after games if I have to. I don’t like to be bad. I put a lot of pride in it and I try not to let it consume me, but I know I put the work in so I go into games pretty confident.”

Monday, Arenado was honored with his fifth National League player-of-the-week award. For the period of June 18 through Sunday, he hit .379, with a .419 on-base percentage and a .966 slugging percentage.

Arenado blasted a two-run home run off Marlins left-hander Caleb Smith in the first inning Sunday in Colorado’s 8-5 loss. It was his fifth homer in the last six games and his 18th of the season, ranking him second in the National League behind Washington’s Bryce Harper entering play Monday.

His nine first-inning home runs are the most in the majors.

“I just try to have a good at-bat, try to set the tone,” said Arenado, who has 24 first-inning RBIs. “Whenever you get a knock in that first at-bat, it always feels good. As the game gets going, it gets tougher to drive the ball just because pitchers are really good — you’re facing some high-end relievers.”

Arenado’s career high for home runs came in 2015, when he hit 43 and led the majors with 89 extra-base hits, the most ever by a third baseman. That year, he had 20 homers, 16 doubles and three triples at this point of the season. Currently, he has 18 doubles and two triples to go along with his 18 homers, so he’s on pace to match the best power numbers of his career.

But Arenado has become a more mature hitter as evidenced by his .318 batting average and .403 on-base percentage. His career average is .293 and his career OBP is .346.

“Nolan, over the course of his career, is becoming a better hitter,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s taking what the pitchers are giving him, especially this year. You’ve seen over the course of May and June that Nolan is being pitched really tough. But he’s adjusted.

“You’re talking about one of the best players in the game, so it’s not surprising that he adjusts and adapts. That’s a sign of a talented player.” Related Articles Rockies’ struggles continue with loss against Giants

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True to his nature, Arenado downplayed the roll he’s on as the Rockies headed to San Francisco to begin a three-game series against the Giants on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t tell myself I’m hot right now; I don’t really say those things,” Arenado said. “That can change. I thought I was hot (Saturday) and I went 0-for-4. I try to have good at-bats. I feel good right now. I’m slowing the game down, slowing my body down and getting my swing off.”

He understands that the Rockies need him to channel his talent, his passion, and yes, his anger, to help get the team back on track. The Rockies are 8-14 in June.

“There’s an incentive definitely coming to the ballpark trying to do something to help the team win somehow,” he said. “When we were losing and not getting hits and I wasn’t doing anything to help, it hurts. It’s disappointing. It keeps me up at night. It’s frustrating. It feels like I’m not doing my part. So it feels good to contribute right now, help these guys out and play a part.”

Complete Package

Where Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado ranks among the National League batting leaders:

.318 average (6th)

18 home runs (2nd)

18 doubles (14th)

55 RBIs (3rd)

.403 OPS (4th)

.595 slugging (1st)

.997 OPS (1st)

(Through games of Sunday, June 24)

Looking ahead

Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (5-1, 5.23 ERA) at Giants LHP Derek Holland (5-7, 4.48), 8:15 p.m., ATTRM

Bettis got hit around for eight runs in 4.2 innings in his last start against the Mets, and he’s yielded at least five earned runs in each of his prior five outings. The right-hander will have to get his momentum turned around against a San Francisco team that has hit him well collectively to the tune of a .301 average (41-for-136), including tagging him for five runs in a Rockies’ win May 28. Colorado, too, has had success against Holland, hitting .329 (27-for-82), with catcher Chris Iannetta highlighting with a .323 average and a homer in 31 career at-bats.

Wednesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (7-6, 3.55) at Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-2, 3.20), 8:15 p.m., ATTRM

Thursday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (7-7, 5.52) at Giants RHP Chris Stratton (8-5, 4.14), 1:45 p.m., ATTRM

Friday: Rockies RHP Tyler Anderson (4-3, 4.62) at Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (1-2, 5.30), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM

Saturday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (5-8, 5.53) at Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.84), 5:15 p.m. FOX