The Blue Jays lead the Rockies 5-3

TORONTO –

Daulton Warshaw had a grand slam in the first inning as Toronto Blue Jace Defeated Colorado 5-3 Rocky on Saturday.

Davis Schneider drew a base walk as Toronto (7-8) took a 5-0 lead in the first. Second baseman Cavan Biggio extended his hitting streak to a career-best eight games with a base hit in the eighth game.

Blue Jace Starting pitcher Yariel Rodriguez struck out six and allowed a run on four hits over 3 2/3 innings in his Major League Baseball debut.

Out came Bowden Francis, Tim Maiza, Chad Green and Yimi Garcia Blue JaceFrancis gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings with a bullpen to preserve the win.

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.

Rodriguez agreed to a five-year contract worth $32 million Blue Jace 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.

Rodriguez appeared to struggle in his first big league at-bat, throwing three balls Rocky Charlie Blackmon was hit by a batter, but he settled for a strike and then induced a flyout. Then he found his confidence and won the next two shots.

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

Warshaw had his second hit in as many games the next game, clearing the bases to make it 5-0. Blue Jace 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.

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 Jace 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 inning.

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.

Rogers was beaten Blue Jace' led off the sixth, hitting a swinging single down the first base line. That brought home Elias Diaz and Nolan Jones to make it 5-3.

BISONS GAME – Four Toronto regulars from last season played for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rochester Red Wings. Alec Manoa gave up four runs on eight hits in a start that lasted just 3 1/3 innings, with reliever Eric Swanson giving up two more in 2/3 of an inning. Jordan Romano of Markham, Ont., The Blue Jace closer last season, with a strikeout and two walks in 2/3 of an inning. Catcher Danny Jansen went 0-for-4 at the plate. All four began the season on Toronto's injured list.

ON DECK – 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.