With 'not as much nibbling,' Feltner shows growth

PITTSBURGH -- Rookie right-handed starter Ryan Feltner has given himself over to the Major League learning process. His sparse opportunities are valuable, regardless of the outcome.

Feltner’s results in his second callup from Triple-A Albuquerque for a spot start this season, and first since a loss at Philadelphia on April 27, were winnable -- five innings, seven strikeouts and two runs allowed on three hits and two walks. But Wednesday afternoon was not the time to celebrate.

A struggling Carlos Estévez yielded Rodolfo Castro’s softly hit RBI single and Jack Suwinski’s game-tying three-run homer in the sixth. Then, Justin Lawrence gave up four seventh-inning runs, three on a home run by Josh VanMeter, as the Rockies blew their lead and dropped the series with a 10-5 loss at PNC Park.

“I try not to be too result-oriented, but the results were better today,” said Feltner, ranked the No. 21 Rockies prospect by MLB Pipeline and, more importantly, the club's top option among its starting pitching prospects. “I felt better as far as fastball command, staying ahead of guys. I was just pitching my game, more in attack mode, not as much nibbling on the corners.”

On a day when the Rockies had 13 hits and built leads of 4-0 and 5-2, the education of Feltner -- whose growing power mix is intriguing -- is of little comfort. But such is life for a Rockies team that fell to 6-12 on the road. They’ll have to live with paltry consolations until they can shake their woes.

Could Feltner be part of future better days? He exceeded 97 mph with his fastball and, since making two spot starts last year, has taken steps with mixing pitches, with breaking balls sealing a couple of strikeouts.

Feltner also handled some sticky situations. He fanned Suwinski swinging on a 95 mph four-seam fastball to end the second with runners at first and third. After walking Tyler Heineman to open the third and giving up two runs on a groundout by Ke’Bryan Hayes and a single from Ben Gamel, Feltner stopped the inning with two on by inducing a flyout from VanMeter on another fastball.

“It’s one of my strong suits, being able to get strikeouts on multiple pitches,” Feltner said.

Ideally, Feltner would have pitched deeper into the game, with closer Daniel Bard and long man Ty Blach not available and lefty Lucas Gilbreath in question (although he faced three, with a strikeout and a walk, before Estévez entered). But Feltner, subbing for Antonio Senzatela (lower back strain) was on three days’ rest after an abbreviated three-inning outing for Albuquerque. Some innings were not as efficient as others.

Still, the conversation with manager Bud Black was far happier than it was after his April 27 outing in Philadelphia, when he also fanned seven in five innings but gave up twice as many runs (four) as on Wednesday.

“I told him after the game that there were some really good things I saw that I didn’t see from his start in Philadelphia,” Black said. “The intent early with the fastball aggressiveness, the breaking ball was really sharp at times, which was good to see. He’s still finding his way.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and I think he’s going to be fine in the long run.”