MILWAUKEE -- After taking a few steps off of the pitcher’s mound, Frankie Montas stopped and put his hand on his hip. And as Michael Toglia began his trot around the bases, Montas let out a deep breath.

After 5 1/3 no-hit innings on Friday, Montas’ outing took a sharp turn in the sixth, when Toglia crushed a three-run blast off him that bounced off the scoreboard in center field. That swing proved to be the difference in the Brewers’ 3-2 loss to the Rockies in the series opener at American Family Field.

“Definitely not the results I was expecting, especially after [how] the night started,” Montas said. “I thought I was throwing the ball really well. Just one pitch. … It feels like I can’t afford to miss one pitch. I always give up a homer.”

Montas took a tough-luck loss despite allowing just three runs on two hits and three walks in six innings while striking out 10, his new season high. The Brewers had a down night offensively, tallying just four hits while leaving five runners on base.

The Brewers (81-60) maintain a nine-game lead in the NL Central after the Cubs (72-69) lost, 3-0, to the Yankees earlier on Friday. But they have gotten off to a tough start in September, going 1-4 after ending August on a five-game winning streak -- and scoring four or fewer runs in each loss to start this month.

“Nobody in baseball has not hit a swoon here,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We’ve hit a swoon with one-run games. We’re competitive in every game. Sure, it’s disappointing, but we’re right there, and that bodes well.”

It looked early on like one run would be enough to win on Friday, with how Montas came out dealing. After he issued a one-out walk to Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon in the first inning, the right-hander retired 10 straight Colorado hitters, including striking out the side in the second inning.

Montas struck out Nolan Jones, Jacob Stallings and Sam Hilliard in the second with three different pitches -- splitter, slider and four-seam fastball. He felt the former two offerings were “better” on Friday than previous outings, and his trust in his four-seamer also is evident.

“I cannot tell you the amount of confidence that I have on that pitch,” Montas said.

That’s reflected in both how often Montas is throwing his four-seamer and the results he has been getting since the Brewers acquired him from the Reds on July 30.

Frankie Montas’ four-seam fastball

Usage with Reds: 33.8%

Usage with Brewers: 38.5 (entering Friday)

Whiff rate with Reds: 19.5

Whiff rate with Brewers: 29.4

Two of Montas’ strikeouts on Friday were with his four-seamer. He had three with his slider, two with his splitter, two with his sinker and one with his cutter.

“That’s telling me that I’m just moving on the right path,” Montas said of the double-digit strikeout effort. “[Pitching coach Chris] Hook has been doing a really good job on correcting mechanical stuff. I definitely feel like every time I step on the mound, I feel better and better. Just got to continue grinding and continue working.”

The Brewers got three scoreless innings in relief from lefty Aaron Ashby after Montas’ outing, and they got the tying run to second base in the bottom of the ninth inning after Jake Bauers drew a walk. Pinch runner Brewer Hicklen was thrown out attempting to tag up on a flyout to center field to end it.

“At the end of the day, you don’t want to make a play that close at the end of the game,” Hicklen said. “I’m already in scoring position, and a single is going to score me. I know my speed can score me from second. I always play the game aggressively, and it’s just one of those learning moments for me. It's tough. I’m obviously disappointed in myself and cost potentially the team. It’s just one of those moments.”

A tough moment, on a tough night for the Brewers, who will look to get back on track on Saturday.

“It sucks over the last two or three games,” Montas said. “It sucks, but nobody here is going to put their head down. I feel like everybody is just going to try to do the part and come back tomorrow and come back to what we are. Just going to try to win a ballgame.”