ARLINGTON -- Coming into a three-game Interleague series against the Rangers this weekend, the Rockies had lost 10 of their last 13 games, and a struggling bullpen had attributed to that skid.
Colorado's relievers held an 8.29 ERA during that span, but the bullpen found success in the Rockies' 9-5 win on Friday.
After starter Chad Bettis allowed five runs on six hits, Colorado's bullpen held the Rangers hitless in 3 1/3 innings of relief and did not allow a run to score for the remainder of the game.
Harrison Musgrave struck out three in 1 1/3 innings, Adam Ottavino struck out two in the eighth -- his first appearance since returning from the disabled list Thursday -- and Wade Davis allowed just one walk in the ninth.
Manager Bud Black said he was pleased with the bullpen's performance on Friday. He added that pitching coach Steve Foster has made some mechanical changes with Chris Rusin, who has an 8.22 ERA in his last seven games, and Bryan Shaw, who has a 12.66 ERA in his last 11 outings.
Black said those changes should lead to more improvement.
"There are some pitching mechanic changes in place that I think take time to show the proof of that," Black said. "I think that's going to show up. There's been a mental shift as well, in the bullpen. A mind shift, and I think that will show up, too, in the weeks to come."
Dunn to throw bullpen session
Left-handed reliever Mike Dunn -- who was placed on the disabled list on June 8 with a rhomboid strain in his upper back -- is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday.
Dunn is progressing faster than expected, but Black said there is still no timetable for his return. Black said the club will likely send Dunn on a rehab assignment before he returns to the bullpen.
Ottavino unavailable Saturday
Ottavino was unavailable for Saturday's game against the Rangers. Ottavino threw 29 pitches in his return to the mound on Friday, but Black said he had regular arm soreness Saturday morning.
Ottavino, who went on the disabled list with a sore oblique on May 28, leads the club with a 0.92 ERA and 0.65 WHIP in 29 1/3 innings this season.
Rockies beat
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, prior to Friday's 9-5 win, the last time the Rockies won after trailing by five or more runs at the end of the first inning was Sept. 24, 2006, against the Braves. It was also the first time the Rockies won such a game on the road.
• Since 2011, Carlos Gonzalez holds the highest batting average among all National League players at .331 (143-for-432) in Interleague Play. Charlie Blackmon ranks second at .322 (124-for-385).
• The Rockies' 23 road wins rank first in the National League and third in the Majors. Colorado's .590 win percentage on the road is .223 points higher than its .367 win percentage at home (11-19). That's the highest road/home winning percentage disparity in the Majors.
Wesley Dotson