CINCINNATI -- Michael Toglia will have to even out the all-or-nothing quality of his at-bats to lock down the Rockies’ first-base job. But home runs are good plays, and they beat the heck out of nothing.

Toglia launched his 12th home run of the season, a fifth-inning leadoff shot against Reds dominant right-hander Hunter Greene during Thursday afternoon’s 8-1 loss at Great American Ball Park.

Toglia homered twice in the four-game series, of which the Rockies lost three. He has gone deep eight times in the past 24 games. Toglia entered the finale averaging a home run every 14.46 at-bats -- third best in the National League for a player with a minimum of 140 at-bats.

With Kris Bryant having missed most of the season with injuries and Elehuris Montero having struggled his way off the roster and into Triple-A Albuquerque, Toglia, 25, is receiving a consistent run of playing time.

Being able to regularly expect his name in the lineup has allowed Toglia to hone in on preparation for a starter.

“I’ve tried to keep it the same,” Toglia said this week as he prepared for the Reds series. “When I wasn’t playing every day, I would still try to study the starting pitcher in case of an injury or if something happens where I have to be in -- I wanted to be prepared for that.

“But knowing I’m more likely going to be in the lineup, I can do some more research the night before, look at the information, be able to sleep on it. When I get to the field the next day, it’s not as much of a last-second cram.”

Studying Greene wasn’t a major academic exercise. Greene throws an elite fastball and a nasty slider. The Rockies had seen him twice at Coors Field and pinned a 10.80 ERA on Greene’s ledger, as he struggled in Denver’s unique atmosphere.

On a muggy day in Cincinnati, Greene showed the Rockies a wholly different slider -- one he was able to land while behind in the count.

“He’s got good stuff -- All-Star, big arm” manager Bud Black said. “The slider for me was the pitch. We haven’t seen a lot of them. We’ve faced him a couple times at Coors Field and we’ve gotten him. Today was a different story.”

Toglia produced a solid afternoon at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout, on a day when Greene fanned 10 Rockies in six innings.

Tyler Stephenson knocked a three-run shot (the first of his two homers in the game) and Santiago Espinal homered in the fourth for a 4-0 lead against lefty starter Austin Gomber, who struck out five in five innings and was overall effective.

“I thought I threw the ball better than the line indicates, but that’s part of the game sometimes,” Gomber said. “The pitch that Stephenson hit out, I thought it was a fly ball to right, but unfortunately it gets out.

“I made a lot of good pitches, especially with the curveball. I can live with the solo homer. The three-run homer hurt.”

The switch-hitting Toglia hit back.

Toglia, a first-round pick (No. 23 overall) by the Rockies in the 2019 MLB Draft out of UCLA, however, has not found his way to consistency.

Still, Toglia finished the day with a .186 batting average in 161 at-bats in a season interrupted by a 30-game refresher at Albuquerque. But Black is seeing enough fruits from Toglia’s efforts to be encouraged.

“It’s double-digit homers and he’s making strides,” Black said. “He’s gaining on some things, which is good to see as a younger service-time player, less than 500 at-bats. He’s making some adjustments. Hopefully, there’s a continuation of that in the second half.”

Toglia was seen as a strong defensive first baseman in the Minors, but spent much of his early career in right field because that was the spot available. His snatch of an Austin Slater liner in the second inning was an example of how he has fit in with good defenders around the infield -- All-Star Ryan McMahon at third base, Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop and 2022 Gold Glove winner Brendan Rodgers at second base.

An improved bat could help keep Toglia on the field at his best position.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment of it and I feel I’m taking advantage of it,” Toglia said. “I’m doing some things right and trying to contribute on both sides of the ball.”