DENVER -- Nothing Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado does should surprise Carlos Gonzalez.

Yet, Arenado had enough magic to surprise his friend and former teammate during Monday night’s 6-5 Rockies victory over the Cubs at Coors Field.

CarGo, in his first game against the Rockies as a visitor, drew a leadoff walk after a standing ovation to open the top of the second inning. Victor Caratini followed with a chopper toward short, and Arenado -- the six-time Gold Glove Award winner -- snagged the ball and flipped it backward with his glove to second baseman Ryan McMahon, who made a barehanded grab to force Gonzalez.

Gonzalez went into the bag standing, not expecting the ball to come to second. As the outfield camera showed on replay, Arenado’s face broke into a sly smile as he made the flip.

“That guy's a freakin’ ... I don't know how to explain it,” said Gonzalez, at least smiling about it later. “He can come up with some magical stuff that nobody expects. And nobody was expecting that flip to second base, and that's why he got me out. But he's a special player.

“He totally surprised me with that flip when he got me out. But it's part of his swag, it's part of his game. He's always gonna be smiling whenever he does something great. And over the years, it seems like he's doing something special every night, so he's a fun guy to watch."

As usual, Arenado left everyone in awe, including the Rockies broadcast booth: "How'd Nolan do that one?"

The All-Star third baseman added a two-run homer in the third inning to tie the game at 4.