Ryan Feltner was overdue for a win. Long overdue.
The Rockies right-hander finally snagged one, thanks to his own superb performance, a big assist from first baseman Michael Toglia, and another sensational throw from Gold Glove center fielder Brenton Doyle to close out the game.
Feltner shut down the Brewers for six innings in Colorado’s 3-2, white-knuckle win Friday night at American Family Field. It was Feltner’s first win since April 12 at Toronto, a span of 22 starts.
The Brewers tried to rally in the ninth against closer Tyler Kinley, but Doyle snuffed them out with a perfect throw.
With one out and pinch runner Brewer Hicklen perched on second, Rhys Hoskins hit a flyball to deep right-center field. As Hicklen prepared to tag up, Doyle moved in front of right fielder Jordan Beck, made the catch and threw a perfect 95 mph strike to third baseman Ryan McMahon, who made an excellent tag on Hicklen for the game-ending double play.
“In those spots, you always anticipate the ball being hit to you, so I was ready for it,” Doyle told Rockies.TV. “It was a close one between either Beck and I to catch it and try to throw him out. I kind of just took authority and wanted to do it myself. I called (Beck) off and made a good throw to ‘Mac.'”
The play was reviewed but it stood up.
“That was an amazing, incredible play,” manager Bud Black told reporters. “To throw that guy out? To throw that ball on the line, with velocity, and make perfect throw to ‘Mac?’ What a play.”
Kinley, who notched his 10th save, raved about Doyle’s throw and McMahon’s catch and tag.
“That throw was so accurate,” Kinley told Rockies.TV. “And ‘Mac’ was so good with his hands on that tag. We see it all the time with him. … What a huge play. It gives us two wins in a row.”
The Rockies beat the Braves, 3-1, in Atlanta on Thursday night.
Toglia’s big fly was gigantic. His two-out, three-run blast in the sixth hit the scoreboard beyond center field, knocking out a few lights. Toglia, who hit cleanup, has hit a team-high 23 homers.
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar ignited the rally with a one-out double off Frankie Montas. It was Colorado’s first hit of the night. McMahon coaxed a walk from Montas before Toglia stepped up and crushed a first-pitch, 93.9 mph sinker that floated up in the zone.
The Rockies had only three hits and struck out 14 times. How rare is a Rockies victory when they have just three hits? They are now 13-177 all-time.
The super-sharp Feltner confounded the Brewers for six innings, giving up just one run on two hits while striking out six. He finished with a flourish, striking out William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell and Willy Adames in the sixth.
“We have talked about how Ryan needs to learn how to finish at-bats and finish innings and finish his game,” Black said. “There were a couple of at-bats in there where he needed to finish, and he did.
“That’s what it takes to win games, especially a pitching duel like he was in against Montas. He did that, and I’m proud of him.”
Feltner did walk three, and two free passes cost him the second inning. He served up a one-out walk to Jake Bauers, a two-out walk to Blake Perkins and an RBI single to Joey Ortiz.
Despite his 2-10 record, Feltner has whittled his ERA to 4.96 with a 3.54 ERA over his last 11 starts.
Saturday’s pitching matchup
Rockies LHP Ty Blach (3-7, 6.65 ERA) at Brewers RHP Tobias Myers (6-5, 3.00)
5:10 p.m., American Family Field
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 630 AM
Blach, called into action when right-hander Cal Quantrill went on the injured list, will make another fill-in start. The last one didn’t go well. He yielded five runs on five hits and two walks over four innings Sunday in Colorado’s loss to the Orioles at Coors Field. Blach, promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque for his first major league appearance since July 26, gave up one run through three innings before Baltimore’s four-run fourth inning, topped off by James McCann’s two-run homer. In four career games (one start) against the Brewers, Blach is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA.
Myers pitched last Sunday at Cincinnati and came away with a no-decision in Milwaukee’s 4-3 loss. He gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits, with four walks and seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. He has made six quality starts this season and has pitched well of late, posting a 2.27 ERA over his last 15 starts. The Rockies beat Myers on July 4 at Coors Field. He gave up all four runs in a 4-3 loss, getting tagged for eight hits over six innings.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-7, 5.30) at Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (10-7, 3.75), 12:10 p.m.
Monday: Off
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