Rockies squander gem from Feltner
Bullpen gives up five runs in 8th in loss to Rays
What a waste.
Ryan Feltner pitched the game of his career Saturday night, but the Rockies’ suspect bullpen collapsed, squandered a 6-1 lead, and Tampa Bay roared back for an 8-6 win at wind-battered Coors Field.
The Rockies’ record is now 2-7. Feltner struck out a careerhigh 10 and limited the Rays to one run on two hits over six innings. He walked two.
But the Rays scored two runs in the seventh inning of righthander Jake Bird, cutting the lead to 6-3. The big hit was Ben Rortvedt’s double to right, which scored Richie Palacios and Harold Ramirez. Bird opened the inning by walking Palacios.
The Rays’ five-run eighth blew away Colorado’s victory chance. Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer off Tyler Kinley, then Ramirez followed with an RBI double off Kinley. Manager Bud Black called on lefty Jalen Beeks, but Amed Rosario hit an RBI single to left, tying the game, 6-6.
In came closer Justin Lawrence, fresh off a bad performance in the Rockies’ 10-7 miracle win on Friday. Yandy Diaz smoked a two-run, bad-hop single past first baseman Michael Toglia.
Before the Rays took a wrecking ball to Colorado’s shaky ‘pen, Feltner was dominant.
His 10 Ks were the most by a Colorado pitcher since Kyle Freeland struck out 10 on August 21, 2021, vs. Arizona at Coors Field. Feltner became just the third pitcher in franchise history to pitch six innings and allow two or fewer hits with 10+ strikeouts in a start at Coors Field, joining Marquez (July 31, 2019, vs. the Dodgers) and Ubaldo Jiménez (Sept. 30, 2007, vs. Arizona).
Feltner got plenty of help from an offense that has emerged from early-season hibernation. Ryan Mcmahon, the hero Friday afternoon with a walk-off grand slam in Colorado’s 10-7 win, hit a solo home run in the second inning to tie the game, 1-1.
Toglia blasted a two-run homer to left through the howling wind in the fourth, and Brenton Doyle hit a two-run shot to right in the sixth. For Toglia, a switch hitter, it was just the second homer of his career from the right side of the plate in 88 plate appearances.
Tampa Bay scored a run in the first on Isaac Paredes’ RBI single to drive in Brandon Lowe, who reached on a one-out walk. In the third, Feltner issued a leadoff walk to Jose Siri but proceeded to strike out Diaz, Lowe and Randy Arozarena.
Bryant sits
Kris Bryant, who hit a two-run homer in the Rockies’ 10-7 win over the Rays on Friday, sat out Saturday’s game because of a tight back. Bryant received treatment before the game.
“It was a little bit tight in Chicago. He played through it,” manager Bud Black said. “So you don’t want to pick a scab here. Let’s get it feeling better.”
Black said he didn’t consider Bryant to be “injured,” adding that he would not be surprised if Bryant returned to the lineup on Sunday. Bryant is hitting .120 (3-for- 25) with one homer, three RBIS, two walks and 12 strikeouts.