Michael Toglia hit a three-run home run, and Ryan Feltner struck out six batters over six innings, allowing just one run, as the Colorado Rockies won back-to-back games for the first time since early August with a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
Feltner (2-10) gave up only two hits and walked three in his first win since April 10. The only run he allowed came in the third inning when Jake Bauers walked and later scored on a base hit by Joey Ortiz.
Before Friday, Feltner had five straight starts without a win, even though he had given up more than three runs only once during that stretch.
“It’s no fun as a starting pitcher when you look at your record,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “It can be very, very tough. It can be demoralizing, but he’s done a good job of keeping his chin up, his chest out.”
Brewers starter Frankie Montas (6-10) did not allow a hit through the first five innings. He had given up just two baserunners, both walks, before Ezequiel Tovar hit a double in the sixth inning.
Ryan McMahon walked, and after Brenton Doyle grounded out, Toglia hit Montas’ next pitch, a 94 mph sinker, to center field for his team-leading 23rd home run of the season.
“(Tovar’s double) made us exhale a little bit because Montas had us, we couldn’t solve his four pitches,” Black said. “Then the (McMahon) walk, then Toglia got a ball up in the zone and he barrelled it.”
With the lead, Feltner came out for the bottom of the sixth and had his best inning, striking out Milwaukee’s top hitters—William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, and Willy Adames.
“That homer from Toglia gave me a little boost of energy,” Feltner said. “I think it gave everybody a little boost of energy. That was a big swing and obviously the big moment change in the game. It was that way for me, as well. It gave me a little second wind to finish strong.”
