The Rockies’ Nolan Arenado will strut the dirt around the batter’s box, then quickly flare his elbows and pinch his shoulder blades in sort of a bad-dude shrug. But during this odd and difficult season, these mannerisms could best be described in therapy parlance, as in, “Fake it ’til you make it.”

But on a night at Petco Park that ultimately was deflating for the Rockies, just maybe Arenado’s swing, which produced a three-run, first-inning homer and a double, is showing up for real. And, goodness, do the Rockies need it after their 14-5 loss to the Padres on Tuesday night dropped them to two games below .500.

• Box score

Arenado shrugged off season-long difficulties with a homer that was his first on the road this season, and it ended a 15-game long-ball drought. But that all evaporated when Rockies starter Chi Chi González walked three, hit one and was gone after five batters and then José Mujica received a rude Major League introduction -- a grand slam by Wil Myers.

“So, 3-0, especially after last night, when only one run was scored … and we jump right out against a very good pitcher,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We gave Chi Chi an opportunity to go down there and have a shutdown innings. Then things got away from Chi Chi.”

So the Rockies (20-22) had the pitching but lost the series opener Monday in a walk-off, 1-0. Arenado’s homer and the big first inning against Mike Clevinger, an over-the-top-type Trade Deadline acquisition from the Indians, signaled the Rockies’ offense finally arrived when the pitching didn’t. Tuesday marked the 10th time in the last 27 games that the Rockies have given up at least 10 runs in a game.

Now the Rockies hope to have the offense, with Arenado’s power, and the pitching of mostly reliable Antonio Senzatela come together to avert a sweep on Wednesday.

In his last 13 games, including his 2-for-3 effort Tuesday, Arenado has slashed .360/.407/.520. Still, Arenado, who from 2014 through last season led the Majors with 682 RBIs and led the NL in homers with 217, has been grading himself below his standards.

A ninth-inning single Arenado poked the opposite way on Saturday at Dodger Stadium provided the go-ahead run. But afterward Arenado spoke like the high-seas fisherman stuck eating canned tuna; beats starvation, but that’s about it.

“I haven’t been very good,” Arenado said. “So I just said, ‘Don’t roll the ball over. Just stay inside and try to hit the ball the other way. Just get the run in.’

“I know when I’m right. But right now, I’m just trying to battle and grind it out.”

On Tuesday night, Arenado shrugged off the struggles with a first-inning, chest-puffing-worthy swing that the Rockies need to see more in the season’s final games.

“He’s worked hard,” Black said. “He hit early yesterday. Then he took his regular batting practice, and he's been working in the cage. He's been tireless, as far as getting swings in, to feel comfortable.

“That was a good at-bat today, and he got another at-bat with the double down the line. There was a popup to the right side, and he looked comfortable there. I thought tonight he looked good in the box. Hopefully, that's a carryover tomorrow and in the coming days.”