A historic power surge sent the Rockies into the All-Star break feeling charged up.
Michael Toglia hit three solo homers in three consecutive at-bats, and the Rockies launched six homers overall in their 8-5 win over the Mets on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
Toglia is the first Rockies player with a three-homer game since Brendan Rodgers in a 13-12 victory over Miami in the second game of a doubleheader on June 1, 2022. Toglia now leads the Rockies with 16 homers.
“I hit three once before, in the minors,” Toglia told Rockies.TV. “I’m definitely feeling more confident. The confidence comes from playing every day, my routine, and seeing results.”
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who has rebounded from his recent 0-for-30 slump, hit a pair of two-run homers and a double and drove in four runs. Brenton Doyle added a solo homer.
Colorado’s six homers were one shy of the team record. Over the three-game series in Queens, the Rockies hit 12 homers, their most ever for a three-game series.
Before the Rockies’ pyrotechnics stole the show, the game was about the return of right-hander German Marquez, who made his first major league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023. It was a mixed performance from Marquez, who gave up three runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out three but walked four.
“He was a little rusty,” manager Bud Black told reporters. “You didn’t see it the first couple of innings. He looked sharp. Then, it looked like … he’s not there yet. When you’re going through the middle of the season it’s hard. It’s not like (having) spring training to get ready.
“But he’ll get there. His stuff was good and he felt good coming out of it. He seems healthy. He’s in good spirits.”
Marquez began the day in sensational fashion, striking out three of the first four batters he faced. Marquez became Colorado’s all-time strikeout king in the second when he fanned leadoff hitter Pete Alonso with a wicked knuckle curve. It was Marquez’s 984th career K, moving him past Jorge De La Rosa.
Marquez blanked New York for three innings, but his messy fourth included three walks. Alonso hit a two-run homer to get the Mets on the board, and then Marquez walked Jose Iglesias, gave up a single to Tyrone Taylor and walked Jeff McNeil to pack the bases. A two-out walk by Francisco Lindor forced in another run to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.
Charlie Blackmon led off the game with a single and waltzed home on Tovar’s homer off left-hander Jose Quintana. In the seventh, Blackmon drew a one-out walk and scored on Tovar’s second homer, this one off righty reliever Adrian Houser.
Toglia led off the fifth with a 432-foot blast off Quintana. He homered off Quintana again in the sixth, two batters after Doyle had led off the inning with a blast.
Toglia, a switch hitter, smacked his third homer in the eighth. It came off Houser with Toglia hitting from the left side of the plate.
Toglia, who was demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque earlier in the season when he struggled with too many strikeouts and a low average, is beginning to catch fire. His 3-for-4 day boosted his average to .197 and he’s hit six homers over his last six games.
“We think he’s a complete player,” Black said when asked how good Toglia can become. “First of all, he plays good defense. He can move for a big man. He’s hit homers in the minors, so the homer is in there.
“But he’ll be the first to tell you that he has to up the on-base percentage (.260), and has to up the average. It’s starting to climb a little bit now. But there is no denying his power.”
The Rockies entered the break with a 34-63 record and are on pace to finish 57-105.
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Originally Published: July 14, 2024 at 2:57 p.m.
