Cue the feel-good highlight reel:
* Rockies rookie Michael Toglia, in his second major-league start, got his first major-league hit, a solid single to center in the fourth inning.
* Toglia lofted a two-run homer off veteran closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth.
* Right-hander Ryan Feltner matched his career-high with seven strikeouts.
* In the first inning, Toglia ran down Michael Harris’ double in the right-field corner, then made a terrific throw to second baseman Brendan Rodgers, who gunned a strike to catcher Brian Serven, who tagged out William Contreras, who was trying to score from first base.
Now, taking off the purple-colored glasses, the Rockies lost 3-2 to the Braves on Wednesday night at Truist Park as right-hander Kyle Wright put together a dominant performance.
Wright, facing the Rockies for the first time in his career, blanked them for seven innings and induced 11 groundball outs.
“He’s got good stuff, mid-90s fastball with good movement,” manager Bud Black told reporters in Atlanta. “He’s got a really good sinker, with velocity, and he can spin the ball.”
Wednesday’s loss snapped the Rockies’ two-game road winning streak. Colorado, which has scored a not-so-grand total of 14 runs in its last eight road games, has not managed a three-game winning streak on the road this season.
Colorado has played very well at Truist Field since it opened in 2017, entering Wednesday’s game with an 11-2 record at the suburban Atlanta ballpark. But they were never in Wednesday night’s game — until Toglia’s homer lit a candle of hope in the ninth.
“There were a lot of good things from him today,” Black said of Toglia. “He had a good swing on the base hit, and against Jansen, the first time you see a guy like that, with deception, to be able to square a ball up, was impressive.
“He’s playing with a confidence, and a looseness you like to see from young guys. It’s got to stay that way. You can’t get overwhelmed.”
TOGLIA HOME RUN.
🚨
THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
🚨 1ST CAREER HR.— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies)
Feltner, trying to stake his claim in next season’s starting rotation, didn’t pitch poorly, giving up just five hits in his 5 2/3 innings. But he made a handful of mistakes that cost him big-time.
“As the game went on, I thought his fastball came into play,” Black told reporters. “There were some positives out there for Ryan tonight. I liked the fact that he competed hard and he stayed in control with his delivery.”
In the first inning, Feltner issued a one-out walk to Dansby Swanson before hanging a 1-0 slider to the dangerous Austin Riley. The Braves’ third baseman crushed the slider for a two-run homer to right field, his 32nd homer of the season.
In the fifth, Ronald Acuna Jr. rocketed a two-out solo homer to center off Feltner. Acuna hit Feltner’s first-pitch changeup 444 feet to dead center, the hit rocketing off his bat at 111 mph.
Feltner remains winless in his career against Atlanta, falling to 0-3 with an 11.91 ERA and six homers allowed in his three starts.
Facing a 3-0 deficit, and with Wright on the mound, the Rockies were in deep trouble. The Braves’ right-hander won his 17th game, allowing five singles, striking out six and walking two.
The two clubs will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Thursday night.
On Deck
Rockies RHP Chad Kuhl (6-7, 5.17) at Braves RHP Spencer Strider (8-4, 2.87)
5:20 p.m. Thursday, Truist Park
TV:հո
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
Kuhl, the former Pirate, has pitched well against Atlanta, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three career starts. He’ll be making his first career start at Truist Park. Kuhl was excellent against the Braves on June 3 at Coors Field, holding them scoreless through six innings, scattering five hits, walking two and striking out three. The right-hander is scheduled to become a free agent, so the final month of the season is crucial for him. His last outing was so-so. Coming off the injured list, he allowed three earned runs through five innings against the Mets at Citi Field. Kuhl was terrific early in the season, posting a 3.17 ERA in his first 10 starts. But his ERA over his last 11 games is 7.17.
Strider, a leading candidate for National League rookie of the year, dominated the Cardinals in Atlanta’s 11-4 win last Friday, allowing one run on six hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Strider’s 158 strikeouts this season leave him 12 shy of the Braves’ modern-era franchise rookie record set by Julio Teheran in 2013. Strider began the season in the bullpen but was moved into the rotation and has shined there, posting a 3.06 ERA in 16 starts. He faced Colorado on June 4 at Coors Field, giving up one earned run with five strikeouts and five walks over four innings.
Trending: Shortstop Jose Iglesias has ripped the Braves in his career, hitting .441 (26-for-59), with six extra-base hits and seven RBIs, entering Wednesday’s game.
At issue: Wondering why the Rockies struggle to score runs on the road? Entering Wednesday’s game, they had drawn just 150 walks, ranking 28th in the majors. Their .292 on-base percentage ranked 24th.
Pitching probables:
Friday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (7-9, 4.88) at Reds RHP Luis Cessa (3-2, 5.36), 4:40 p.m., ATTRM
Saturday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (7-10, 4.97) at Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (3-5, 4.30), 4:40 p.m., ATTRM
Sunday: Rockies RHP Jose Urena (3-5, 5.8) at Reds RHP Chase Anderson (0-1, 33.75) , 11:40 a.m., ATTRM
