Feltner makes impressive strides despite loss to Astros

HOUSTON -- Ryan Feltner had one of his best starts of the season Wednesday afternoon, despite what the stat line might say.

Feltner was in command and efficient, getting mostly soft contact in the Rockies’ 7-1 loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

After getting tagged for 29 runs (23 earned) over his past five starts, Feltner was able to keep it close for most of his outing.

“That’s a really good lineup, so I was happy with our game plan and the way we attacked those guys,” Feltner said. “I want to keep building on it. There are some things I can learn once I go back and look at video, but I think overall, I’m happy about it. I’m just going to keep it rolling.”

The right-hander yielded four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in six-plus innings.

“I do feel really good about how my stuff was today,” Feltner said. “I try not to look at the line too much because some things can happen in a baseball game. As far as stuff and execution of my pitches, I felt like today was one of my best.”

Feltner walked one, and he has gone at least four innings with two walks or fewer in 16 consecutive starts, which ties a Rockies franchise record set by Jeff Francis from June 28, 2008 to June 25, 2010. It’s also the longest streak in a single season in franchise history.

The right-hander was able to shake his first-inning issues, retiring the Astros in order on eight pitches. He had allowed 15 runs in the first inning this season.

“It’s always important to get going on the right foot in the first inning,” Feltner said. “The first inning has been an issue with me in the past. I think going out there and putting my best foot forward sets the tone for the game. That was my main goal today, was set the tone, be a good starter.”

Feltner retired eight of the first nine batters he faced, and the one batter who did reach, Yainer Diaz, was retired on a double play.

Feltner ran into issues in the fourth and fifth, surrendering runs on a Diaz RBI single and a Jose Altuve RBI single.

“He threw well,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “It was a pitchers’ duel through six. Their guy [Spencer Arrighetti] threw really good. I was impressed by him. He had good stuff today, and Feltner matched him. A couple balls up, the Altuve hanging breaking ball and the ball up to Diaz for the [first] run. I thought Ryan threw the ball well.”

Feltner mixed his pitches well against the Astros, throwing 23 four-seam fastballs, 20 sinkers, 15 sliders, 11 curveballs and 10 changeups.

“I thought he had a good fastball,” Black said. “I thought Ryan threw the ball very well with the fastball, and threw some breaking balls. He only got a couple strikeouts, but this is a team that doesn’t strike out. They put the ball in play. They battle with two strikes.”

Feltner said he felt like he had all of his pitches working.

“I felt really good about how I threw the ball,” he said. “There were some weak hits sprinkled in that you just got to live with, but I was OK with my stuff today.”

Feltner got only five swings and misses on the day, but only four balls were hard hit, which is characterized as any ball with an exit velocity of at least 95 mph.

“Going into the game, I knew they were super aggressive, so I just knew that I had to make pitches from the very beginning of the at-bat,” Feltner said. “Some lineups will give you strike one, but not this lineup. Just being sharp on the first pitch and not giving them any cookies, I think, was the biggest thing.”

Despite the final line, Black was pleased with what he saw from Feltner.

“He threw the ball well,” Black said. “He’s making strides. This was a good one against a good lineup, so it should be a little confidence for him going into his next start that he was able to do this. That was more like what we expect from him. It’s more like what Ryan expects.”