1, 2, 3! Toglia's trio powers Rockies' homerfest in Queens

NEW YORK -- Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia has a batting average below the Mendoza line, but don’t tell that to the Mets because, on Sunday afternoon, Toglia ended up having a game to remember in an 8-5 victory at Citi Field.

Toglia hit three solo home runs to become the first switch-hitter in Rockies history to hit three homers in a game. It was just the seventh time a Rockies player hit three-plus homers in a game away from Coors Field and the first since Charlie Blackmon on Aug. 12, 2016.

• Márquez sets Rockies' career K's mark in season debut

Colorado, which hit six homers on the day, also set a franchise mark with 12 in a three-game series.

“I’m not going to lie; it was pretty awesome,” Toglia said with a huge smile on his face. “That’s something that is extremely rare. So when it does happen, all you can do is enjoy it. It’s pretty sweet that [this game] is going into the All-Star break and I’ll be able to settle down for a couple of days. When I come back, I’ll use it as momentum and keep it going.”

It was also Toglia’s second three-homer game of his professional career. The first one came while playing for Triple-A Albuquerque as he connected for three long balls on Aug. 27, 2022, against Round Rock. It came two weeks before making his Major League debut.

In the fifth inning off Mets starter Jose Quintana, Toglia tied the score at 3 with his jack over the center-field wall.

An inning later, after Brenton Doyle gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead with a solo homer, Toglia added another homer three batters later. This time, the ball went over the left-center-field wall.

In the top of the eighth, Toglia hit his third home run in the game, this time off Mets reliever Adrian Houser. It was another solo shot that went over the left-center-field wall to give the Rockies an 8-3 lead. Toglia was laughing as he was circling the bases.

“We give out this chain for Player of the Game,” Toglia said. “[Ezequiel Tovar] had three hits and two homers, and I joked, ‘I have to hit another [homer] if I want to win [that chain].’ I kind of looked at him and started laughing.”

For the record, Toglia did receive the chain.

For Toglia, he is proud to hit the three homers in New York. He was a Yankees fan while growing up in Gig Harbor, Wash. Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter were his heroes. Toglia was influenced by his father, Angelo, a native New Yorker, to love the Bronx Bombers.

In fact, Angelo will watch his son play at Yankee Stadium when the Rockies play a set in the Bronx on Aug. 23-25.

“Doing it against the Mets felt pretty good,” Toglia said. “I know my dad is actually happy. He is from New York. He grew up a Yankees fan.”

The key to success in recent days is that Toglia has been more aggressive at the plate, according to manager Bud Black.

“Because of his power, he is dangerous,” the skipper said. “I think the Minor League pitchers were really careful with him. In the big leagues, it’s not going to happen. They are going to come at you and you have to be aggressive. I think he has been doing that since his return and I think the results are showing.”

Black went so far as to say that Toglia is a complete player, who can play great defense.

“He can move for a big man. He has hit homers in the Minors and [his] amateur career,” Black said. “He will be the first to tell you, he has to up the on-base percentage and the batting average. It’s starting to climb a little bit. But that’s his goal.

“But there’s no denying the power. It’s now showing in the big leagues. That’s a weapon for us.”