Toglia hits a 3-run homer, Feltner strikes out 6 in 6 innings and Rockies beat Brewers 3-2

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Michael Toglia hit a three-run home run, Ryan Feltner struck out six over six innings of one-run ball and the Colorado Rockies won consecutive games for the first time since early August with a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Feltner (2-10) held Milwaukee to a pair of hits while walking three for his first victory since April 10. The only blemish came in the third when Jake Bauers walked and scored on a base hit by Joey Ortiz.

Prior to Friday, he’d taken a no decision in five straight starts despite allowing more than three runs just 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 give up a hit through five innings. He’d allowed just two baserunners by way walks to Ryan McMahon and Toglia in the first and fourth innings, respectively, before Ezequiel Tovar’s one-out double in the sixth.

Ryan McMahon followed with a walk and after Brenton Doyle grounded out, Toglia sent Montas’ next offering — a 94 mph sinker — to center for his team-leading 23rd homer 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.”

Armed with a lead, Feltner came back out for the bottom of the inning and produced his best inning of the night, striking out the heart of Milwaukee's lineup — 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.”

Montas struck out 10 batters for the first time since joining the Brewers in a deadline deal with the Reds.

Aaron Ashby provided three scoreless innings of relief, striking out four. He’s yet to allow a run in four relief appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville.

“Frankie was good and Ashby was tremendous,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

The Brewers cut the lead to one with an unearned run in the seventh then brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth against Tyler Kinley, who escaped the jam and earned his 10th save when pinch-runner Brewer Hicklen was thrown out trying to take third on Rhys Hoskins' flyout to center.

“That was an amazing, incredible play to throw that guy out, to throw that ball on a line with velocity; a perfect throw,” Black said. “What a play.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Kyle Freeland (blister) will take his usual spot in the rotation Sunday against the Brewers, manager Bud Black said. The Rockies also expect RHP Cal Quantrill (right triceps inflammation) to return to the rotation in the coming days while RHP Victor Vodnik (right bicep inflammation) was set to make a minor league rehab start Friday for Double-A Hartford.

UP NEXT

RHP Tobias Myers (6-5, 3.00 ERA) starts for Milwaukee while LHP Ty Blach (3-7, 6.65) gets the ball for Colorado on Saturday.

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Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon (24) tags out pinch-runner Brewer Hicklen for the final out of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Colorado Rockies won 3-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Colorado Rockies players from left; shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (14), outfielder Jordan Beck (27), first baseman Michael Toglia (4) and outfielder Sam Hilliard (16) react to winning against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pinch-runner Brewer Hicklen walks off the field after getting tagged out at third base by Colorado Rockies Ryan McMahon for the final out of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers' Blake Perkins runs to first base on a ground ball single to right field during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Colorado Rockies' Aaron Schunk, left, is late with a tag as Milwaukee Brewers' Blake Perkins, right, steals second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Colorado Rockies left fielder Sam Hilliard (16) catches a fly ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers' Jake Bauers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia (4) high-fives Colorado Rockies Nolan Jones (22) at the plate after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Wall Street was mixed early Monday as optimism over a potentially big rate cut from the Federal Reserve this week boosted most sectors, with the exception of technology stocks.

Futures for the S&P 500 were unchanged before the bell, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked 0.2% higher. Futures for the technology-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 0.3%.

Apple was down 2.4% early, while chipmaker Micron was dragged down about 3%.

Stocks were broadly supported by the bond market, where Treasury yields eased ahead of the Fed’s meeting. The unanimous expectation on Wall Street is for the Fed to deliver the first cut to interest rates in more than four years on Wednesday, and traders are rekindling hopes it may offer bigger-than-usual relief.

Many economists would like to see the Fed announce a half-point rate cut this week, party because they think the officials should have begun cutting rates at their previous meeting in July. Wall Street traders on Friday signaled their expectation that the Fed will carry out at least two half-point cuts by year’s end, according to futures prices.

The Fed has been keeping its main interest rate at a two-decade high to slow the economy enough to stifle high inflation. With inflation having eased substantially from its peak two summers ago, the Fed has said it can focus more on bolstering the slowing job market and economy.

The Fed faces a balancing act in cutting rates. Lowering them relieves pressure on the economy but can also fuel more inflation. Reports last week showed some underlying upward pressure on prices. That initially pushed traders to ratchet back expectations for the size of the Fed’s upcoming move.

On Friday, though, traders were seeing roughly a coin flip’s chance that the Fed could deliver a large cut of half of a percentage point, instead of the more traditional quarter of a point, according to data from CME Group. The federal funds rate is currently sitting in a range of 5.25% to 5.50%.

Shares of Boeing were somewhat stable after Friday's decline, which was triggered by aircraft assembly workers who walked off the job. The ratings agency Fitch said a prolonged strike could lead to a ratings downgrade for the troubled aircraft manufacturer.

In Europe, France’s CAC 40 and Britain's FTSE 100 were flat at midday, while Germany’s DAX lost 0.2%.

In Asian trading, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng swung between gains and losses during the day, closing 0.3% higher at 17,422.12 after data released over the weekend showed China’s economy slowed further in August. Factory output, retail sales, and investment failed to meet expectations. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate unexpectedly surged to a six-month high, adding to challenges.

“The drums of a deepening economic slowdown are beating louder, and it’s time for China’s leadership to decide whether to step up or risk sliding further into stagnation,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3% to 8,121.60.

Markets in Japan, mainland China and South Korea were closed for holidays.

In currency trading, the Japanese yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar, which fell to 140.03 yen from 140.82 yen. The dollar briefly dipped below 140 yen for the first time in more than a year. The euro cost $1.1124, inching up from $1.1076.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude gained 65 cents to $68.30 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 56 cents to $72.17 a barrel.

On Friday, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% for a fifth straight gain. It is just 0.7% below its all-time high set in July. Rallies for Microsoft, Broadcom and other big technology stocks helped it claw back almost all its recent losses, the worst in nearly 18 months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 0.7% and the Nasdaq composite added 0.7%.

FILE - The American flag hangs from the front of the New York Stock Exchange on Sept. 10, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

FILE - A currency trader passes by a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - A person looks at an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm in Tokyo, on Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)