Yariel Rodriguez shines, Vladdy extends streak, but Jays blanked 1-0 by the A's

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s hit streak has become, for now, the only meaningful item worth monitoring for the Blue Jays until someone musters something of consequence to supplant it.

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The way Yariel Rodriguez was dealing on Saturday afternoon at the Rogers Centre, the first-year Jays pitcher was well on his way to dominating the headlines.

It would end with a thud, though, when the Cuban right-hander gave up the game’s first — and, as it turned out — only run on a sixth-inning Brent Rooker homer in a 1-0 loss to the Oakland A’s.

Even though he took the loss, Rodriguez emerged as the Jays’ best player on this afternoon as his offensive support consisted of two measly singles — neither coming after the second inning.

The series rubber match will be a Sunday matinee as the Oakland-based A’s play their final game in Toronto before the club relocates to Sacramento next season.

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At least fans were able to witness the A’s flame-throwing closer Mason Miller, who entered the ninth inning to face the top of the Jays’ batting order.

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Miller struck out George Springer looking before issuing a walk to Dalton Varsho.

That brought Guerrero — who in the first inning extended his hit streak to 22 games with a single to right — to the plate as the potential winning run in a showdown between power pitcher and power bat.

The Jays’ offensive futility of the previous eight innings seemed almost forgotten … that is until Miller and his 103-mph fastball struck out Guerrero swinging.

Spencer Horwitz then also struck out swinging to end it.

Guerrero’s hit streak ties his career high and is six short of the Jays record, set by Shawn Green during his all-star season in 1999.

The only other Jays player to record a hit Saturday was Ernie Clement.

Offence was pretty scarce to the point of non-existent throughout this game. Besides the Rooker homer, only two base-runners — both on the A’s — made it as far as second base.

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The A’s out-hit Toronto 8-2 but the Jays turned three double plays.

Rodriguez lasted 5.2 innings and was pulled after Shea Langeliers — who had four of the A’s hits — singled following the Rooker homer, which was ruled a double, before video replay confirmed that the ball left the field of play.

Rodriguez, who threw a season-high 85 pitches, gave up five hits and a walk while striking out five to drop his record to 1-5.
Ryan Burr relieved him and struck out Zack Gelof to keep the score 1-0.

Rodriguez’s Oakland counterpart, Osvaldo Bido, a 28-year-old righty, was just as good, if not better, going six shutout innings.

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PEN PALS

Looking way back to March, when no games had been played and no player had been injured or traded, the Jays thought the season would begin with a healthy Jordan Romano, a healthy Erik Swanson, a dependable left-hander in Tim Mayza, an eighth-inning option in Yimi Garcia and a versatile Trevor Richards fronting its bullpen.

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Flash forward to Saturday’s game and none of those options were available, having been placed on the injured list, released or traded.

Having earned saves in the two previous games, de facto closer Chad Green was not available. In his past 11 appearances, which encompasses 13.0 innings, the veteran righty has only allowed one earned run and is, by far, the best reliever in Toronto’s bullpen.

And with Genesis Cabrera on the paternity list, the Jays were missing an electric lefty.

So it was up to Burr, who struck out three of the four batters he faced. Then, Brendon Little, who started the eighth and induced a double play after surrendering a leadoff single. Then, recently acquired Tommy Nance, who made his Blue Jays debut when he started the ninth. One out and two singles later, Nance was replaced by Zach Pop, whose second pitch resulted in an inning-ending double play.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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