'There's more in there' for multi-homer Montero

DENVER -- Last weekend, Rockies rookie Elehuris Montero was bright-eyed and smiling at the prospect of playing at Busch Stadium.

A one-time Cardinals prospect before heading west to Colorado in the Nolan Arenado trade, Montero had never visited St. Louis’ ballpark. COVID-19 kept him from being included in 2020’s dystopian exercise known as the alternate training site, where socially distanced prospects slipped into empty stadiums by day but departed before Major Leaguers played in silence by night.

Montero’s trip to the Gateway City didn’t go that well, beyond celebrating his 24th birthday on Wednesday. The Rockies were swept in three games and he went 1-for-9.

But the smile never left. When Colorado returned to Coors Field on Friday night, Montero belatedly celebrated in style. His two no-doubt home runs off Giants starter Alex Wood to center field, for two runs in the second inning and three in the fifth, led the Rockies to a 7-4 victory at Coors Field that ended a losing streak at five games.

Manager Bud Black said Montero “hasn’t grown into his full man strength,” but seeing the way his first two Coors Field homers flew is incentive to keep muscling up.

“I agree -- I feel like there’s more in there,” Montero said with bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz serving as his interpreter. “I’ve just got to continue to work hard.

“You guys are going to see the real Montero.”

The Giants (59-60) arrived in Denver 5 1/2 games out of a National League Wild Card spot, where they remained after the Padres' 6-3 loss to the Nationals. It was San Francisco's eighth game in a stretch of 12 against struggling teams on whom it hoped to feast. But Montero is in his first Major League season, and is hungry himself.

This month brought Montero’s fourth callup of the season from Triple-A Albuquerque. Black played him when he was hitting .433 over an eight-game hit streak. Montero entered Friday on a 3-for-25 skid over seven games, but Black is allowing him to overcome.

“We’re watching every pitch that goes across the plate when he’s hitting, and there’s a poise to him,” Black said. “He’s confident in his ability to hit. That hasn’t wavered.”

Unfooled by a first-pitch changeup for his first homer and ready for a 1-1 sinker the second time, Montero showed the control in the batter’s box that wasn’t seen during early Major League forrays but developed on his trips back to the Albuquerque lab.

Also, Connor Joe -- being fed playing time after a period of slumps and bruises -- parked his first home run in 169 at-bats since June 7, and righty José Ureña (6 2/3 innings, three runs, three hits) won for the first time since June 16.

Montero’s lone hit in St. Louis was a solid double, a nice treat against the team that gave him development skills in the Minor Leagues. But his biggest present is opportunity.

“I feel comfortable at the plate,” he said. “I’m getting some at-bats, and I feel confident.”