Rodriguez throws one-hitter in pro debut

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Rodriguez throws one-hitter in pro debut
04/06/2008 5:21 PM ET
By Shane Figueroa / Special to MLB.com

As professional debuts go, this one was about as good as it gets.
Cuban defector Kenny Rodriguez fanned seven in a six-inning complete-game one-hitter to lead the Dunedin Blue Jays over the Fort Myers Miracle, 3-0, on Sunday.
It was the first career start and appearance for the 20-year-old Rodriguez, who defected to the United States from Cuba during the offseason and signed a Minor League contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
"There's a real air of professionalism around him," Dunedin's pitching coach Darold Knowles said. "He pitched for the Cuban National Team and is very polished for a guy so young. He has his own mind frame out there, his own game plan, and he executed very well."
Knowles noticed right away that Rodriguez had his own strategy, as the right-hander repeatedly shook off catcher Matt Liuzza's signs in the first inning. It was never an issue for Liuzza, who continued to fluctuate signs until the pitcher had the pitch and location he wanted.
"Matt did a great job back there," said Knowles. "He saw that Kenny knew what he wanted to do, and he let him dictate his own game. It probably couldn't have worked out much better than that."
Rodriguez retired the first eight Miracle hitters, notching his first career strikeout in the top of the first. His single mistake came with two outs in third when Fort Myers shortstop Toby Gardenhire laced a breaking ball into left field.
He recovered nicely, setting down the final 10 batters he faced to earn his first win on American soil.
"Mostly it was fastballs in and out to set up a curve or a changeup," said Knowles. "He was ahead in the count the whole game and was real sharp with his location. He could throw his curve for a strike or keep it down. He got more than few swings and misses with the changeup."
Rodriguez, who went 6-4 with a 4.18 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 75 innings in Cuba last year, was more than economical with his pitch count. He needed 78 pitches to mow through 19 batters and struck out at least one hitter in each inning.
"I'm sure he could have gone much farther," said Knowles. "It's too early to stress any pitcher though. With his arsenal of pitches, he's going to keep us in the ballgame every time he's on the mound."
Paul Franko went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and scored twice for the Blue Jays (3-1). Travis Snider ripped a run-scoring double in the first and Jesus Gonzalez and Cory Patton added RBI two-baggers in the fourth and sixth respectively.
Tyler Robertson, 9-5 with a 2.29 ERA with Class A Beloit last year, was charged with the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts for the Miracle (1-3).
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.