The St. Louis Cardinals have gotten off to a mediocre start this season as star Nolan Arenado has struggled to get going at the plate.

Now, after a brutal extra innings 6-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox that saw Arenado break out with a big game, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol shared his thoughts on his star third baseman, per Bally Sports:

Said the Cardinals manager, “That's a complete hitter… Took his shot and hit a big homer for us to take the lead… He's doing a really nice job.”

On Saturday, Arenado finally hit his second home run of the season for the Cardinals in a breakout game. He went 3-3 with a pair of walks, three RBIs, and a run scored.

Last month, the 33-year-old Arenado clapped back on the comments from Cardinals fans that he was over the hill.

“It pisses me off when everyone talks about the age part,” Arenado said, “because we know physically, we don’t feel that way. We’re really hard on ourselves and expect to do great things. And when you struggle, age is always talked about.”

Arenado also said that he's been through cold starts before. The Cardinals star is confident that he'll be able to bounce back, but he does acknowledge that he's found it harder to get going.

“Listen, I’ve gotten off to slow starts the last two years, and it’s frustrating. I don’t know what it is. When I was younger, I had a few years when I really got off to really good starts. And as I’ve gotten older, it’s always been a little harder to get going. Who knows why, but I feel just fine.”

More games like Saturday's performance will show Cardinals fans that Arenado still has plenty left in the tank.

Cardinals lose heartbreaker to White Sox

St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Ivan Herrera (48) reacts as he called out on strikes by umpire CB Bucknor (54) to end the game against the Chicago White Sox at Busch Stadium.
© Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Tanner Banks came on after a three-hour rain delay, striking out pinch-hitter Ivan Herrera in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the White Sox beat the Cardinals 6-5 on Saturday night to snap their four-game losing streak.

Tommy Pham drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the 10th and the White Sox were an out away in the bottom half when the umpires stopped play and called out the grounds crew after John Brebbia threw his first pitch to Nolan Gorman.

After the delay of 3 hours, 3 minutes, Banks came on and threw four pitches to get Herrera for his first save of the season.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn allowed five runs, three earned, on four hits and three walks in five-plus innings.

The two teams are back at it on Sunday.  Left hander Matthew Liberatore will make his first start of the season in what looks like it will be a bullpen game for the Cardinals.