Hitters need a reboot after a homestand at Coors Field, and the longest of the year had the Rockies lagging.

They were held without a hit until the fourth inning of Wednesday’s 7-1 loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park. It was their 11th consecutive loss at the ballpark dating back to 2018 and the eighth consecutive series without a win for Colorado after it took four of six series against winning teams in May.

Here’s a breakdown of the losing series and the moments that mattered most:

The Moment:

— Ezequiel Tovar’s first hit of the day should’ve been motivating but was only relieving.

He took a first-pitch fastball into left field to break up Spencer Arrighetti’s no-hit bid with one out in the fourth inning. It was a continuation of the team’s six-hit effort in Tuesday’s loss that couldn’t keep up with the Astros’ early scoring.

The quick taste of history highlighted the Rockies’ offensive issues, which have been most pronounced in their meetings with the Astros. In four games against Houston, they didn’t capture a win and scored a combined nine runs — the previous two-game series had the benefit of altitude in Mexico City, but Colorado couldn’t capitalize.

Tovar added a double later on and Nolan Jones did too. But the Rockies’ 0-for-4 mark with them in scoring position and inability to get a hit until the fourth inning told the story of another losing skid in Houston. 

Takeaway:

— Remove first innings and Austin Gomber has been as good as Phillies’ ace Zack Wheeler, but that’s not how it works.

He allowed five runs right away in Tuesday’s loss and has allowed 23 of his 42 earned runs this season in the first inning. Remove those and his 2.56 earned run average bests Wheeler’s 2.73.

The Astros hunted the starter’s breaking balls and off-speed pitches. Gomber leaned on the fastball to work his next 4⅓ scoreless innings but the offense’s production post-season-long homestand wasn’t ready to come back.

His season has followed an opposite path.

Gomber’s ERA through 10 starts was 2.76. It was on a franchise-best pace and showed the power of his curveball and moving fastball. He has a 9.39 ERA in the last five outings that has sent his season-long mark to 4.63 — more in line with his career numbers.

Before the dip, he had a start pushed back with left arm soreness. His belated outing against Los Angeles went just three innings, and the lefty has suffered from opposing offenses since. Kyle Freeland is back and will be leaned on to pick up the difference.

What went right:

— Ryan Feltner shook off a rattling from José Altuve to give Colorado a winning chance.

He held Houston scoreless through the first three innings and was only on the mound for two Astros runs before Tyler Kinley allowed in his other two earned runs as inherited runners in the seventh inning.

His trouble came when Altuve singled and stole two bases before coming home to break up the shutout in the fourth inning. Feltner hit Yordan Álvarez during the commotion but eventually stranded him.

It’s no surprise for Feltner who prefers the road. He carries a 5.00 ERA in nine road starts with a 7.43 mark in seven at Coors Field. He said earlier this year that he has to “figure out a better way to get outs” as his home park.

Feltner pitched better than his final line of Wednesday’s loss. It’s a loss all the same.

What went wrong:

— Colorado’s defense had a Gomber-like downturn in Houston.

The Rockies gave up seven runs in Wednesday’s loss with the defense providing the Astros extra ammo. Miscues like Brendan Rodgers and Michael Toglia’s wayward throws exemplified the trend and Toglia’s day at first went from bad to worse when he was called for eighth-inning obstruction on a pinpoint pickoff throw.

A dropped ball between Brenton Doyle and Tovar in shallow center field in the seventh inning wasn’t an error but proved to be the spark Houston needed. 

It enabled extra outs for the Astros and their 11 hits did the rest.

“(Ryan) threw well, it was a pitcher’s duel through six,” Black said. “In the seventh, sort of a misplay there. They didn’t hit the ball hard after — a couple of infield choppers and a hit-by-pitch didn’t help us.”

— Jake Bird was the most-used reliever in 2023; injuries have cut his pace this year.

He went to the 15-day injured list before Wednesday’s loss with a strained groin. It happened in his last appearance against Washington on June 22 and the move is retroactive to the following day.

Bird carried a 6.26 earned run average in 23 innings this year. He recently returned from right elbow soreness before the latest ailment.

What’s up next:

— Some battles are Goliath on Goliath. The Rockies trip to Guaranteed Rate Field isn’t that.

Colorado’s weekend against the White Sox will be a battle between the American and National League’s worst teams by record. Chicago has six fewer wins than the Rockies but has seen its pitching staff heat up in recent weeks  — a nightmare for a team limited to three runs against the Astros.

Astros 7, Rockies 1

What happened: Houston used three errors and 11 hits to drown a struggling Colorado offense for the fourth and final time this year. It was the latter’s 11th consecutive loss at Minute Maid Park dating back to 2018.

On the mound: Ryan Feltner went six innings and pitched well enough for a quality start before he succumbed to four earned runs. It was the third consecutive outing he has allowed at least four. Tyler Kinley allowed two of them as inherited runners and was charged with two additional runs and garnered two outs before being pulled. Victor Vodnik was the only Colorado pitcher without a run allowed in his two-out showing.

At the plate: Ezequiel Tovar’s single broke up Spencer Arrighetti’s no-hit bid in the fourth inning. He added a double later on to join Nolan Jones’ double as Colorado’s only extra-base hits. The Rockies combined for four hits, one walk and 14 strikeouts. They have scored just four runs in the last three games.

What’s next: Colorado Rockies (RHP Dakota Hudson, 2-10; 5.63) at Chicago White Sox (RHP Drew Thorpe, 1-1; 5.02) at 5:10 p.m. on Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field (Rockies.TV).