Warshaw hit a grand slam as the Blue Jays beat the Rockies 5-3 in Rodriguez's MLB debut.

TORONTO — Yariel Rodriguez has waited his entire life for this moment: playing in Major League Baseball.

Rodriguez did not disappoint as the Toronto Blue Jays gave up just one run on six hits over 3 2/3 innings in a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. The 26-year-old Cuban said he's trying to stay focused on the mound.

“It was very emotional, but at the same time I know I have a job to do,” Rodriguez said through translator Hector LeBron. “I talked myself into controlling myself mentally, physically, everything.”

Rodriguez agreed to a five-year, $32 million contract with the Blue Jays in the offseason and was called up to MLB for the first time on Saturday. He pitched as a starter and reliever in the major leagues of Cuba and Japan.

He allowed no runs in 6 1/3 innings as a starting pitcher for Triple-A Buffalo this season, striking out 10 in his two starts.

“This is the best baseball in the world,” said Rodriguez, who turned pro at age 18 before moving to Japan at age 22. “If there's any difference it's the location, you have to find your pitch here.

“Don't miss your spot, because if you do, you'll be hurt.”

Toronto (7-8) took a 5-0 lead in the first after Davis Schneider's bases-loaded walk followed by Daulton Warshaw's grand slam. Cavan Biggio extended his hitting streak to a career-best eight games with a no-hitter in the eighth game.

Bowden Francis (1-2), Tim Meza, Chad Green and Yimi Garcia pitched the Blue Jays bullpen to preserve the win, with Francis giving up two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Garcia picked up his first save of the season.

Toronto manager John Schneider said the five-run lead allowed him to stick with his original plan to “finish” Francis Rodriguez.

“I think it's a little bit of a cushion, it gives Yariel a chance to take a deep breath and it gives us a chance to turn our game around the way we want to,” he said.

Brendan Rodgers' two-run single in the sixth inning put Colorado (4-11) in the game after Brenton Doyle's third shot.

Dakota Hudson (0-3) gave up five runs on five hits, five over six innings. Victor Vodnik and Jake Byrd each threw a scoreless inning of relief.

Toronto's offense left Rodriguez on first, and Schneider drew a base walk to push George Springer home.

Warshaw hit his second hit on the next play to give the Blue Jays a 5-0 lead. He hit Hudson's 91.3 mph four-seam fastball 390 feet to right-center field. Warshaw's second career grand slam was scored by Bo Bichette, Daniel Vogelbach and Schneider.

Varsho was happy to take some pressure off Rodriguez.

“I think when you have a lead, for any pitcher that goes out there, they can do certain things that they want to do and find their spot and do what they do,” Warshaw said. “It was amazing what he was able to do for us.”

Doyle responded in the top of the third, crushing an 86 mph Rodriguez slider 420 feet into the second deck in left field.

Rodriguez was ejected after two plays in the fourth inning. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said before the game that Rodriguez would be limited to 70 pitches, and the Toronto skipper was true to his word, pulling Francis out of the bullpen as soon as Rodriguez struck out Rodgers in his sixth K of the game.

The 31,472 fans at Rogers Center gave Rodriguez a nod of thanks as the young pitcher took off his cap and bowed his head as he walked toward the dugout.

Rodgers hit a swinging single down the first base line to give the Blue Jays the lead in the sixth. That brought home Elias Diaz and Nolan Jones to make it 5-3.

DECEKTE — Jose Berrios (2-0) will take the mound in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Kyle Freeland (0-2) will start for Colorado.

This Canadian Press report was first published on April 13, 2024.

John Chidley-Hill, Canadian Press